Predictors of Life Satisfaction in HIV-Positive Nepali Women

In a cross-sectional design, the authors examined the degree to which indicators of physical, mental, and social domains and perceived health predicted life satisfaction in 98 HIV-positive women who were former commercial sex workers in Nepal. Measures included the Quality of Life Inventory, Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the anxiety subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Life satisfaction was significantly associated with physical functioning (r = .32), role-physical (r = .31), bodily pain (r = .32), mental health (r = .39), anxiety (r = −.66), depression (r = −.47), social functioning (r = .47), and health transition (r = .49). Anxiety (β = −.75), health transition, (β = .45), role-physical (β = −.43), physical function (β = .24), and mental health (β = −.23) explained 60% of the variance in life satisfaction. The authors discuss the challenges of international studies, including salience of the concept of quality of life, conceptual and cultural equivalence of instruments, identification of culturally relevant concerns, disclosure of private information, and instrument format.

Key words: life satisfaction health-related quality of life, perceived health, HIV, Nepal