Sex, Social Support and Self-Disclosure of People Living With HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The study examined the sex differences in seeking social support and self-disclosure, the relationship between social support and self-disclosure, and the interaction effect between sex and social support on self-disclosure. Questionnaires were administered to 128 people. Data was analyzed using the t-test, Spearman’s correlation coefficient and Analysis of Variance. Results established that there was no significant difference between females and males in seeking social support (p = .192) or in self-disclosure (p = .30); there was a significant positive relationship between social support and self disclosure (rs =.307; p = .002) and there was no interaction effect between sex, social support and self-disclosure ( p = .88). The study recommended that social support services for people living with HIV and AIDS should integrate mechanisms that enhance self-disclosure.