Predicting Factors of Spiritual Well-being among People Living with HIV/AIDS

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine spiritual well-being and predicting factors of spiritual well-being among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). MATERIALAND METHODS: 138 participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique from one tertiary hospital in the northeast region of Thailand. The research instruments included: 1) the demographic characteristic questionnaire 2) the spiritual well-being questionnaire 3) the religious practice questionnaire 4) the social support questionnaire 5) the depressive questionnaire, and 6) the hope questionnaire. The reliabilities were tested by applying Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, which were 0.87, 0.90, 0.89, 0.89 and 0.87 respectively. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson product-moment correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULT: 1) The overall spiritual well-being was at a high level (4.03 ± 0.55). 2) Factors related to spiritual well-being were religious practice (r = 0.40, p = 0.000), social support (r = 0.57, p = 0.000), depression (r = -0.26, p = 0.002), and hope (r = 0.66, p = 0.000). Meanwhile, there was no correlation between CD4 level and spiritual well-being (r = -0.17, p = 0.053). 3) Predicting factors of spiritual well-being were hope (β = 0.446, p = 0.000), religious practice (β = 0.188, p = 0.005), and social support (β = 0.225, p = 0.007). These predictor variables accounted for 49.90% of the variance in spiritual well-being. CONCLUSION: It was summarized that hope, religious practice, and social support can predict spiritual well-being. Therefore, implementing intervention programs with a focus on the significant predicting factors to promote spiritual well-being among PLWHA is recommended. Further research should focus on other factors influencing spiritual well-being.