HIV-related stigma by association and mental health in HIV-negative partners of serodiscordant couples

affect the mental health of people who live with HIV (PLWH), but they also affect their romantic relationships. Specifically, partners of PLWH who have a negative HIV serostatus may also experience psychological distress due to the process of HIV-related stigma by association. However, healthy relationship functioning may buffer the negative impact of HIV-related stigma by association on mental health among these partners. The current study examined whether various relationship functioning indicators moderated the relationships between HIV-related stigma by association dimensions and psychological distress, mainly depression and anxiety symptoms, among partners of PLWH who have a negative HIV serostatus. The sample consisted of 58 participants who had a negative HIV serostatus and were in an HIV-serodiscordant relationship, living in Türkiye. Participants completed validated and back-translated measures of HIV-related stigma by association dimensions, psychological distress, and relationship functioning indicators. Even though none of the relationship functioning indicators moderated the associations between HIV-related stigma by association dimensions and psychological distress, the particular impact of attachment orientations on the relationships between HIV-related stigma by association dimensions, as well as the role of relationship satisfaction, interpersonal trust, and interpersonal conflict on the associations between HIV-related stigma by association dimensions and commitment was observed. Lastly, relationship satisfaction and interpersonal trust mediated the associations between HIV-related stigma by association dimensions and psychological distress. These findings overall suggest that HIV-related stigma by association dimensions and several relationship functioning indicators may interact with and have an effect on each other in intricate ways to influence mental health outcomes of partners with a negative HIV serostatus. Consequently, future theoretical, empirical, and intervention research may focus on the dynamics of close relationships of HIV-affected couples to better understand both stigma and mental health experiences.