ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Effect of hardiness on CD4+ count among injection drug users
Deepak Pandey
Post Doctoral Fellow - Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Pt. Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India
Abstract
Aim: The purpose of the present research work was to examine the relationship among hardiness and immune response (cluster of differentiation 4 [CD4+] cell count) of injection drug users (IDUs) in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh state, India. Method: Total of 160 male human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive IDUs, enrolled in anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre of Bilaspur were taken for study. To assess hardiness of the participants, Psychological Hardiness Scale (PHS-SA) was used. Result: The hierarchical multiple regression analysis model as controlling for socio-demographic factors, i.e. age, education, and locale was employed to analyse the obtained data. Results revealed overall contribution of hardiness variance predicted 39.8% for criterion variable CD4+ count; whereas the contribution of hardiness components, i.e. commitment, control, and challenge predicted 20.7%, 9.8%, and 9.3% respectively. All these findings showed significant positive association among criterion variable CD4+ count. Conclusion: Hardiness (personality trait) shows a vital role for enhancing the immunity level (CD4+ count) of HIV infected IDUs.
Keywords: Personality. HIV. Immunity.
Correspondence: Dr. Deepak Pandey, Post Doctoral Fellow - Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Pt. Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University, Bilaspur-495009, Chhattisgarh, India. deepakpandey985@yahoo.in
Received: 7 April 2017
Revised: 7 May 2017
Accepted: 30 May 2017
Epub: 26 September 2017
DOI: 10.5958/2394-2061.2018.00015.0
Introduction
The empirical evidences reveal role of hardiness in both psychological and physical wellbeing among different populations in health sectors in the area of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); the role hardiness is considered an important element for better health.[1] Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+) cell count is a type of protein molecule in human blood which is present on the surface of 65% of individual T-cells. It is a receptor of HIV; mostly it damages a positive patient’s immunity level.[2] CD4+ count is to measure the strength of the immune function of the person diagnosed with HIV infection; normal CD4+ count range in adults is 500-1500 cells/mm3.[3] Hardiness is comprised of three components as personality characteristics- commitment, control, and challenge, and these three components are considered as the sub-dimensions of hardiness in the present research.
Hardiness is one of the personality traits and it functions as a psychological defensive source in fighting against stressful conditions.[4-7] It is a combination of attitudes that provide the necessary courage, motivation, and capability to eradicate developmental and ecological stresses by the opportunities for development in mental and physical health.[8] Significant association is found between hardiness control subscale and percentage of circulating T-cells.[9] Hardiness component subscales are associated with CD4+ counts among men infected with HIV.[10] Control subscale of hardiness shows an effect of interaction with initial CD4+ count among HIV people.[11]
Hardiness is found to be associated with physical as well as mental illness.[5,12] Hardiness is playing a role of moderator of stress.[13-15] There is significant association among commitment and CD4+ count.[2] Hardiness indirectly affects physical health via psychological wellbeing.[16,17] Hardiness is associated with immune change of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).[1] Various studies have reported relationship between personality traits,[18-20] and link between mind and immune system.[21] Individuals who were spirituality oriented, and having meaning and purpose in lives were also hardier.[22]
Aim
The main aim of this study was to find the relationship between hardiness and immunity (CD4+ count) of HIV positive IDUs.
Objectives
1. To see the effect of hardiness on immune response (CD4+ count) of IDUs.
2. To see the effect of hardiness components, i.e. commitment, control, and challenge on immune response (CD4+ count) of IDUs.
Method
Participants
One hundred and sixty HIV positive male patients on ART, mean age 30 years, range 21-40, enrolled in ART centres and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh state, India were selected on the basis of purposive sampling. Chhattisgarh State AIDS Control Society, Raipur permitted for the research work.
Materials
To measure the proposed variables, different tools were administered on the subjects.
Socio-demographic variables with the written informed consent of participants’ information were obtained with the help of a self-report questionnaire.
The immune response was assessed by CD4+ cell count and CD4+ counts of participants were noted from their ART centre report cards.
Hardiness was measured through Psychological Hardiness Scale (PHS-SA) developed by Singh.[23] It consisted total 30 items divided into three subcomponents, i.e. commitment, control, and challenge. It is self-reporting, Likert type scale. Reliability of the scale was depicted through Cronbach α coefficient that was found to be 0.79, and the scale has satisfactory validity.
Procedure
Participants who met inclusion criteria were requested to participate after getting the informed consent. Participants were interviewed and assessed by various measures considered in the study by the researcher.
The inclusion criteria of the participants in the study includes -
· HIV diagnosed male participants.
· Those who were able to read and speak in Hindi language.
· Able to write and fill a questionnaire.
The exclusion criteria of the participants in the study excludes -
· Below 100 and above 750 CD4+ counts in cells/mm3.
· Illiterate participants.
· Those who were having other chronic diseases, i.e. hepatitis B, tuberculosis, cancer, etc.
Statistical analysis
In this study, correlational design was used. The data obtained from this investigation were analysed with the hierarchical multiple regression analysis with stepwise method to find out the relationship between hardiness and its components, i.e. commitment, control, and challenge (predicting variable), and CD4+ count (criterion variable) of participants, using the Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) 24 version. Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) was examined to detect multicollinearity, considering ranges are 1.0 to 4.0.[24,25]
Result
Table 1 shows the description of all the variables.
Total 160 men participated in the study. The participants’ age range was between 21-40 years. Out of 160 participants, 131 (82%) participants were from age group 21-30 and 29 (18%) were from age range 31-40 years. This higher percentage of IDUs in the age range of 21-30 years indicated that young population was more infected.
Fifty five (34.4%) participants were from rural area and 105 (65.6%) were from urban area. This information about sample from IDUs population indicated that mostly they were from urban area. Ninety two (57.5 %) participants’ educational qualification was school level and 68 (42.5%) respondents were undergraduate. It means that the educational status of many participants was only school level, indicating less awareness about the health.
The CD4+ T lymphocyte count indicated immunity status of IDUs group. Thirty six (22.4%) participants had lower CD4+ count within the range of 100-350 cells/mm3 and 78 (48.8%) of range 351-500 cells/mm3; they are considered as borderline of the danger zone. Forty six (28.8%) participants’ physical status was normal, between 501-750 cells/mm3. Composite score of hardiness mean score was M=110.43; hardiness mean value reveals that IDUs participants hold moderate level of hardiness.
Table 2 shows the hierarchical multiple regression analysis and subsequently the interpretations have been discussed.
In model 1, factor commitment made significant contribution in variation of the CD4+ count [F(1,158)=41.355, p<0.01) and explained 20.7% of the variance in CD4+ count (R2=0.207, ΔR2=0.207). The standardised beta value (β=0.455, p<0.01) indicated significant positive association between predictor commitment and CD4+ count. In model 2, factor control made significant contribution in variation of the CD4+ count (ΔF(1,157)=34.478, p<0.01). The introduction of factor control explained additional 9.8% variance in CD4+ count with overall 30.5% (R2=0.305, ΔR2=0.098). The predictor control was found to have significant positive association (β=0.326, p<0.01) with CD4+ count. In model 3, factor challenge made significant contribution in variation of the CD4+ count (ΔF(1,156)=34.385, p<0.01) and explained overall 39.8% of variance in CD4+ count (R2=0.398, ΔR2=0.093); the model explained additional 9.3% of the variance in CD4+ count. The results indicated significant positive association between predictor challenge and CD4+ count (β=0.323, p<0.01). In the final model, all three predictor variables were found to be statistically significant with challenge recording a slightly higher beta value (β=0.323, p<0.01) compared to commitment (β=0.283, p<0.01) and control (β=0.275, p<0.01).
Findings clearly indicated that age and education (control variables) did not contribute significantly in the variation of CD4+ count; factors commitment, control, and challenge were found to be significantly correlated with immunity of the participants. Result indicates the explaining percentage of all predictors was 39.8%; this total of the variance included 20.7% for commitment, 9.8% for control, and 9.3% for challenge.
VIF ranged from 1.000 to 1.156, which was distant from the 1.0 to 4.0, criteria that may indicate multicollinearity concern.[24,25] It means that multicollinearity found significant correlation between all predicting variables.
Discussion
The present study finds that the factors commitment, control, and challenge were significantly positive and directly associated with CD4+ count indicating higher the hardiness, higher the CD4+ count. Studies reveal hardy people are able to deal with stressful condition.[26] Self-care is very important, which protects one’s body functioning and engaging them in the activities which keep the body healthy.
Result clearly indicates that commitment, control, and challenge factors positively increase CD4+ counts of participants. Researchers have also found significant positive relation between hardiness and CD4+ count in their individual studies.[2,12,15,27,28] Hardy individuals feel meaningful, value themselves and their activities that shows commitment attribute.[29] Higher hardiness is related to lower illness.[5,10] Hardy individuals are open to new experience and tend to accept the change for their development as sign of control.[29] Control subscale of hardiness shows an effect of interaction with CD4+ count among HIV positive people.[1] Significant positive association is found between control subscale and CD4+ cell percentage with chronic disease.[9]
Conclusion
For better immunity level, the IDUs must have positive thought, mind set or mental construct for themselves and for other persons of the society, and this positivism reduces negativism. Their social activity, relationship with family, friends, and colleagues need to improve for better immune response in HIV positive persons.
References
1. Pandey D, Shrivastava P. A comparative study of social support and hardiness among HIV diagnosed men and women. The Asian Man. 2015;9:59-63.
2. Pandey D. Psychoneuroimmunology of chronic illness. Lunawada: Red’shine Publication; 2016.
3. Pandey D, Shrivastava P. Mediation effect of social support on the association between hardiness and immune response. Asian J Psychiatr. 2017;26:52-55.
4. Antonovsky A. Health, stress, and coping. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 1979.
5. Kobasa SC. Stressful life events, personality, and health: an inquiry into hardiness. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1979;37:1-11.
6. Kobasa SO. How much stress can you survive? Am Health. 1984;3:64-77.
7. Maddi SR. The story of hardiness: twenty years of theorizing, research, and practice. Consul Psychol J. 2002;54:173-85.
8. Thomson C, Morries T. Health and immune function. J Sci Med Sport. 2009;12:83.
9. Okun MA, Zautra AJ, Robinson SE. Hardiness and health among women with rheumatoid arthritis. Pers Individ Dif. 1988;9:101-7.
10. Levy EM, Cottrell MC, Black PH. Psychological and immunological associations in men with AIDS pursuing a macrobiotic regimen as an alternative therapy: a pilot study. Brain Behav Immun. 1989;3:175-82.
11. Solano L, Costa M, Salvati S, Coda R, Aiuti F, Mezzaroma I, et al. Psychosocial factors and clinical evolution in HIV-1 infection: a longitudinal study. J Psychosom Res. 1993;37:39-51.
12. Dolbier CL, Cocke RR, Leiferman JA, Steinhardt MA, Schapiro SJ, Nehete PN, et al. Differences in functional immune responses of high vs. low hardy healthy individuals. J Behav Med. 2001;24:219-29.
13. Ganellen RJ, Blaney PH. Hardiness and social support as moderators of the effects of life stress. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1984;47:156-63.
14. Kobasa SC, Puccetti MC. Personality and social resources in stress resistance. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1983;45:839-50.
15. Pengilly JW, Dowd ET. Hardiness and social support as moderators of stress. J Clin Psychol. 2000;56:813-20.
16. Auslander GK, Litwin H. Social networks, social support, and self-ratings of health among the elderly. J Aging Health. 1991;3:493-510.
17. Krause N. Satisfaction with social support and self-rated health in older adults. Gerontologist. 1987;27:301-8.
18. Cohen S, Herbert TB. Health psychology: psychological factors and physical disease from the perspective of human psychoneuroimmunology. Annu Rev Psychol. 1996;47:113-42.
19. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, McGuire L, Robles TF, Glaser R. Psychoneuroimmunology: psychological influences on immune function and health. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002;70:537-47.
20. Pandey D, Shrivastava P. Relationship between self-perception and CD4+ count in person living with HIV/AIDS. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing. 2014;5:1354-6.
21. Hanson C. Psychoneuroimmunology in health education. J Health Educ. 1992;23:405-8.
22. Carson VB, Green H. Spiritual well-being: a predictor of hardiness in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. J Prof Nurs. 1992;8:209-20.
23. Singh AK. Psychological Hardiness Scale (PHS-SA). Agra: National Psychological Corporation; 2008.
24. Pan Y, Jackson RT. Ethnic difference in the relationship between acute inflammation and serum ferritin in US adult males. Epidemiol Infect. 2008;136:421-31.
25. Pandey D, Shrivastava P. Psychometric properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the Social Support Scale. The International Journal of Indian Psychology. 2016;3(4):191-8.
26. Kemeny ME, Gruenewald TL, Dickerson SS. Shame as the emotional response to threat to the social self: implications for behavior, physiology, and health. Psychol Inq. 2004;15:153-60.
27. Farber EW, Schwartz JA, Schaper PE, Moonen DJ, McDaniel JS. Resilience factors associated with adaptation to HIV disease. Psychosomatics. 2000;41:140-6.
28. Janowski K, Piasecka M. P-1030 - Immune power personality questionnaire - development and psychometric properties. Eur Psychiatry. 2012; 27(Suppl 1):1.
29. Wallace KA, Bisconti TL, Bergeman CS. The mediational effect of hardiness on social support and optimal outcomes in later life. Basic Appl Soc Psychol. 2001;23:267-79.
Pandey D. Effect of hardiness on CD4+ count among injection drug users. Open J Psychiatry Allied Sci. 2017;9:69-72. doi: 10.5958/2394-2061.2018.00015.0. Epub 2017 Sep 26.
Source of support: Nil. Declaration of interest: None.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.