Anxiety in hospitalized people living with HIV in Vietnam: Social support as a mitigating factor

Social support, especially from healthcare workers, arises as an anxiety potential relieving factor for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study explored how different types and sources of social support are associated with anxiety among HIV-infected inpatients in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 392 PLWH, approached through convenience sampling, at Nhan Ai hospital in Vietnam, using a questionnaire that included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS). Anxiety prevalence was 27.04%. Tangible support (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85–0.97; p = 0.005) and positive social interaction (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.85–0.98; p = 0.011) were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of anxiety. Participants receiving support from both friends and healthcare workers showed the strongest association with lower odds of anxiety (OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02–0.23, p < 0.001). This study suggests an inverse association between social support and anxiety among PLWH, especially in inpatients with limited family support.