Stigma by Association, Parenting Stress, and the Mental Health of Caregivers of Adolescents Living With HIV in Uganda

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between stigma by association—defined as prejudice and discrimination against individuals who are associated with stigmatized individuals, parenting stress, and the mental health of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV. METHODS: Multivariate regression analyses were conducted using baseline data from the Suubi4Stigma study (2020–2022), a pilot study addressing HIV-related stigma among adolescents and their caregivers in southern Uganda. RESULTS: The average age was 47 years, 77.5% were female, and 49% identified as the child’s biological parent. Stigma by association was associated with poor caregiver mental health (b = 1.346, 95% confidence interval = 0.49, 2.21) and parenting stress (b = 1.431, 95% confidence interval = 0.79, 2.08). Caregiver’s gender, biological relatedness, household composition, and family cohesion were uniquely associated with caregiver mental health and parenting stress. DISCUSSION: Findings point to the need to incorporate stigma reduction components, not only for adolescents living with HIV, but also their caregivers, to counteract the effects of stigma on their mental health.