Death Anxiety and Hopelessness Among HIV Patients

Abstract

HIV infection remains a chronic, stigmatized condition associated with significant psychological distress, including death anxiety and hopelessness, which may impair treatment engagement and quality of life. Understanding the interaction between these constructs is essential for developing targeted psychosocial interventions in resource-limited clinical settings. Objective: To examine the relationship between death anxiety and hopelessness among HIV-positive adults and to compare levels of these constructs across gender. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 HIV-positive adults (60 males, 60 females) attending the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Special Care Center at District Head Quarter Hospital, Chiniot. Participants completed demographic forms, the Death Anxiety Scale, and the State–Trait Hopelessness Scale. Pearson correlation assessed associations, and independent t-tests compared gender differences. Results: Mean death anxiety was 18.62 ± 5.21, and mean hopelessness was 57.80 ± 9.42. Death anxiety and hopelessness were moderately positively correlated (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). Females reported significantly higher death anxiety than males (20.35 ± 4.58 vs. 16.90 ± 5.30, p < 0.001), whereas males showed significantly higher hopelessness than females (60.90 ± 9.80 vs. 54.70 ± 7.92, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Death anxiety and hopelessness are closely interlinked among HIV patients, with meaningful gender variations. Integrating gender-sensitive mental health support into HIV care may help reduce psychological burden and improve outcomes.