Employment Outcomes for Individuals With HIV/AIDS and Co-Occurring Mental Health Factors

Abstract

With the advent of more advanced treatments and therapies, people with HIV/AIDS are experiencing significant improvement in their health, making many of their ongoing employment and career goals more realistic. However, these individuals continue to report experiencing employment barriers, including factors related to symptoms and illness progression, medication adherence and HIV treatment, and beliefs about health and wellness. The present evaluation focuses on factors predicting employment status among individuals with HIV/AIDS, as well as the effects of other indicators on work, including chronic mental health comorbidities such as depression, medication adherence to antiretroviral regimens, and perceived adjustment to chronic illness. Results of multivariate logistic regression identify significant predictors of work participation among this population, including gender and education. Study strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for innovative services are discussed.