AUTHOR=Guo Yingwu , Du Yingrong , Liu Jun , Bai Jingsong , Gao Jianpeng , Wu Lei , Yang Yongrui , Wang Weibo , Chen Jie , Xu Zhaoyuan , Yan Junfang , Lu Nihong , Li Chongxi , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi TITLE=Effects of HIV-related worries on fertility motivation moderated by living children among couples living with HIV: A dyadic analysis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1000100 DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1000100 ISSN=1664-1078 ABSTRACT=Introduction

HIV-related worries are a major barrier to achieving fertility goals for couples living with HIV (CLWH). We examined the moderating role of living children in the association between HIV-related worries and fertility motivation in CLWH including happiness, well-being, identity, and continuity.

Methods

The data of 322 reproductive-aged CLWH were collected for this cross-sectional study from a referral antiretroviral therapy clinic in Kunming, China between October and December 2020. Intra- and interpersonal mechanisms of association between HIV-related worries and fertility motivation moderated by the number of living children in husband-wife dyads were analyzed by the actor-partner interdependence moderation model.

Results

The high-level HIV-related worries of the wives and husbands were associated with the spouses’ fertility motivation. Having at least one child helped to ameliorate the negative association between one’s own HIV-related worries and fertility motivation. However, there was no evidence of such moderation in the spouse.

Conclusion

Whether the CLWH has at least one living child should be taken into account in counseling. Childless families should be counseled on HIV-related worries as those worries have a greater negative effect on fertility motivation than couples who have a child.