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Emotional health and its association with neurocognition in Hispanic and non-Hispanic White people with HIV

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2023

Lesley A. Guareña
Affiliation:
Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0662, USA HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA
Lily Kamalyan
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
Caitlin Wei-Ming Watson
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
Kayle Karcher
Affiliation:
Mentorship for Advancing Diversity in Undergraduate Research on Aging Program, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA, 920936, USA
Anya Umlauf
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Erin Morgan
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
David Moore
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Ronald Ellis
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0662, USA
Igor Grant
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Mariana Cherner
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Raeanne C. Moore
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Zvinka Z. Zlatar
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
Robert K. Heaton
Affiliation:
HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
María J. Marquine*
Affiliation:
Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0662, USA HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92103-8231, USA Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093, USA Departments of Medicine (Geriatrics Division) and Psychiatry, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
*
Corresponding author: María J. Marquine, email: maria.marquine@duke.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

Emotional functioning is linked to HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment, yet research on this association among diverse people with HIV (PWH) is scant. We examined emotional health and its association with neurocognition in Hispanic and White PWH.

Methods:

Participants included 107 Hispanic (41% primarily Spanish-speakers; 80% Mexican heritage/origin) and 216 White PWH (Overall age: M = 53.62, SD = 12.19; 86% male; 63% AIDS; 92% on antiretroviral therapy). Emotional health was assessed via the National Institute of Health Toolbox (NIHTB)-Emotion Battery, which yields T-scores for three factor-based summary scores (negative affect, social satisfaction, and psychological well-being) and 13 individual component scales. Neurocognition was measured via demographically adjusted fluid cognition T-scores from the NIHTB-cognition battery.

Results:

27%–39% of the sample had problematic socioemotional summary scores. Hispanic PWH showed less loneliness, better social satisfaction, higher meaning and purpose, and better psychological well-being than Whites (ps <.05). Within Hispanics, Spanish-speakers showed better meaning and purpose, higher psychological well-being summary score, less anger hostility, but greater fear affect than English speakers. Only in Whites, worse negative affect (fear affect, perceived stress, and sadness) was associated with worse neurocognition (p <.05); and in both groups, worse social satisfaction (emotional support, friendship, and perceived rejection) was linked with worse neurocognition (p <.05).

Conclusion:

Adverse emotional health is common among PWH, with subgroups of Hispanics showing relative strengths in some domains. Aspects of emotional health differentially relate to neurocogntition among PWH and cross-culturally. Understanding these varying associations is an important step towards the development of culturally relevant interventions that promote neurocognitive health among Hispanic PWH.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © INS. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2023
Figure 0

Table 1. Participant characteristics for the overall sample and stratified by ethnicity

Figure 1

Table 2. Participant characteristics for Hispanics stratified by primary language

Figure 2

Figure 1. Comparisons on the NIH Toolbox Emotion Battery summary T-scores (Figure 1a: negative affect; Figure 1b: social satisfaction; Figure 1c: psychological well-being) and individual scales comprising these summary scores, by ethnicity (Hispanic vs Non-Hispanic White) and language group within Hispanics (English-and Spanish-speaking) based on independent sample t-tests (unadjusted for covariates). *p < .05, **p < .01.

Figure 3

Table 3. Results of final multivariable models depicting associations between NIHTB Emotion Battery summary T-scores (negative affect, social satisfaction, and psychological well-being) and Fluid Cognition T-scores among PWH

Figure 4

Figure 2. Results from linear regression models examining modifications in associations between scales comprising the NIHTB-EB negative affect summary scores and Fluid Cognition by ethnicity, adjusting for significant covariates. Results from interaction terms for each of the models were as follows:Fig.2a. Ethnicity X Fear Affect: β = .28; SE = .11; CI = .05 to .50; p = .02. Fig.2b. Ethnicity X Perceived Stress: β = .33; SE = .12; CI = .09 to .58; p = .008. Fig.2c. Ethnicity X Sadness: β = .22; SE = .11; CI = .001 to .44; p = .049.Fig.2d. Ethnicity X Anger Affect: β = .21; SE = .15; CI = -.09 to .50; p = .17. Fig.2e. Ethnicity X Anger Hostility: β = .22; SE = .13; CI = -.04 to .47; p = .09.