Subjective Well-Being, Conformity and Social Support Among People Living With HIV

Abstract

This study investigated subjective well-being, conformity and perceived social support among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Sample consisted of 100 male and 100 female PLHIV of the age range of 18 to 35 years who were clearly diagnosed by the ICTC centers as a HIV- reactive (NACO protocol) and education level at least high school.Another group of 100 male and 100 female controls of the same age range and education was included in the sample who did not had any history of psychiatric, psychosomatic and intrinsic disorders. PGI General Well-being Scale (Verma & Verma, 1989), Social Conformity Scale (Dhapola & Singh, 1991) and PGI Social Support Questionnaire (Nehra et al., 1996) were administered to these groups. The data were analyzed using means, SDs and ANOVA. The findings revealed that PLHIV experience low level of subjective well-being towards their life as compared to the control group, because of poor psychosocial wellbeing. They exhibit low level of conformity and perceive low level of social support. Consequently, they feel to be estranged from self, family and society.