Abstract: The acute and unique pressures of the pandemic offer an opportunity to understand how family dynamics affect the mental health and adherence of adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLHIV). Pathways analyses demonstrated a direct path from experiencing life stressors to increased verbal aggression from caregivers, which led to anxiety and ultimately, poorer ART adherence. Key implications of this study are the importance of support services addressing family strengthening measures, mental health, ART adherence, parenting skills, and economic needs of HIV-affected households. Family strengthening interventions that provide parenting skills and mental health support could be crucial to improving AYLHIV adherence.

Citation: Zani, B., Luckett, B., & Thurman, T. R. (2024). COVID-19 pandemic stressors, familial discord, and anxiety among adolescents living with HIV in South Africa: pathways to non-adherence. AIDS Care, 36(sup1), 137–144.