4.1. HRQoL and Alcohol Use
HIV symptoms
HIV INFECTION
Our findings also indicated that changes in HRQoL had a direct effect on alcohol use, with an improvement in HRQoL being associated with a reduction in alcohol consumption. Based on the stress-coping theory, the direct link between HRQoL and alcohol use may be explained by the fact that a person’s HIV status can result in a decline in HRQoL as they go through familial, psychological social and mortality risk concerns associated with the HIV infection. Those with low HRQoL may turn to alcohol to cope with the difficulties associated with their conditions. Results from our prior studies among this population indicated that participants drank to cope with emotions such as sadness or physical discomfort due to their HIV symptoms. Previous studies have also reported that the presence of HIV-related symptoms is associated with a poor quality of life [