Testing the Efficacy and Mechanisms of an Adapted Resilience Building Intervention in People Aging With HIV

A two-group RCT will enroll 100 older (aged 50+) people living with HIV (PLHIV), who will be recruited from the UAB HIV outpatient clinic. Eligible participants will complete a baseline assessment including a 14-day experience sampling method (ESM) protocol, and then be randomized to either the intervention group (n=50) or an attention-matched control group (n=50). We will block randomize groups based on race, sex, and self-reported resilience (Connor Davidson Resilience Scale). If differences are found between groups on influential variables (e.g., SES), such factors will be controlled in analyses and exploratory aim analyses will examine treatment moderators (e.g., sex, race). Both groups will return for four weekly two-hour group visits, followed by a one-month post intervention assessment (including qualitative and quantitative feedback) and a second ESM protocol. A three-month follow-up (comparable to baseline) will assess health outcomes. A blinded research assistant will conduct follow-ups. Our Primary Aims will use ESM via text messaging, and focus on intervention effects on the use of resilience resources following times when stressors are reported and whether such increases drive improved affective stress reactivity and recovery (Aim 1). Our secondary aim will examine effects on health outcomes at three months. Our exploratory aim will examine moderators of treatment response.

Inclusion criteria

• current UAB HIV Clinic patient
• age 50+
• have a recent history (within the past 12 months) of suboptimal HIV management, defined as having either ≥one record of detectable viral load or ≥one missed clinic visit without prior cancellation/reschedule

Exclusion criteria

• neurological or severe psychiatric (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression) disorders