5. Conclusions
depression, depressive symptoms
The study, utilizing longitudinal data, found that depression symptoms acted as a mediator in the relationship between HRQoL and alcohol use among male PLWH who consume alcohol. The findings of this study have practical and theoretical implications. From a practical perspective, the results suggest that interventions aimed at improving simultaneously HRQoL and depression symptoms among male PLWH with alcohol use may help reduce alcohol consumption. Therefore, interventions that address depressive symptoms in addition to improving HRQoL may have an even greater impact on reducing alcohol use among this population. Theoretically, the study supports the use of the stress-coping theory in understanding the association between HRQoL, mental health, and alcohol use among male PLWH, contributing to existing literature on a gap in our understanding of the interactions among these factors among PLWH. 