African Journal of AIDS Research is co-published by NISC (Pty) Ltd and Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group African Journal of AIDS Research 2015, 14(1): 1–12 Printed in South Africa — All rights reserved Copyright © NISC (Pty) Ltd AJAR ISSN 1608-5906 EISSN 1727-9445 http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2014.961940 Introduction Psychosocial wellbeing, in the context of this study, deals with the combined occurrence of intrapersonal, interper- sonal and social criteria of daily functioning. This concept originates from the ‘Complete State’ of wellbeing model (Keyes 2002, 2005) and refers to emotional wellbeing (intrapersonal feelings), psychological wellbeing (private and personal criteria of everyday functioning) and social wellbeing (social coherence, social actualisation, social integration, social acceptance and social contribution) and the interaction of these aspects in the behaviour that operationalises psychosocial wellbeing. Keyes et al. (2008) later introduced it as two compatible traditions that reflect subjective wellbeing. One focuses on feelings towards life (hedonic, emotional wellbeing) and another focuses on functioning in life (eudemonic wellbeing). The hedonic tradition describes emotional wellbeing (EWB) with maximised short-term positive feelings and overall long-term life satisfaction. The eudemonia tradition results in positive functioning in life and is measured in terms of psychological and social wellbeing. This approach suggests continuous assessment of the presence of mental health, described as flourishing; and the absence of mental health, described as languishing. Moderate mental health describes a condition where people are neither flourishing nor languishing (Keyes et al. 2008). The work of Keyes (2002, 2005) offers theoretical grounding for the psychoso- cial wellbeing aspects of this study. Other authors in this field, like Ryan and Deci (2001) and Ryan (2009), find that psychosocial wellbeing is not a euphoric feeling of happiness, but a state of vital and full functioning based on an ongoing mindfulness and psychosocial self-regulation. Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) introduce behaviour, as predetermined by attitude, into the discussion; similar to prejudice. This interplay poses a critical challenge for those living with HIV (PLWH) (Varni et al. 2012) or people living close to them (PLC), in the form of coping as part of psychosocial wellbeing. These researchers concluded that peoples’ ability to cope with HIV stigma depended on their ability to cope with everyday stress relating to interaction with others and the context Changeover-time in psychosocial wellbeing of people living with HIV and people living close to them after an HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement community intervention H Christa Chidrawi 1 , Minrie Greeff 1 *, Q. Michael Temane 1 and Suria Ellis 2 1 Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa 2 Statistical Consultation Services, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa *Corresponding author, email: minrie.greeff@nwu.ac.za HIV stigma continues to affect the psychosocial wellbeing of people living with HIV (PLWH) and people living close to them (PLC). Literature unequivocally holds the view that HIV stigma and psychosocial wellbeing interact with and have an impact on each other. This study, which is part of a larger research project funded by the South Africa Netherlands research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD), responds to the lack of interventions mitigating the impactful interaction of HIV stigma and psychosocial wellbeing and tests one such intervention. The research objectives were to test the changeover-time in the psychosocial wellbeing of PLWH and PLC in an urban and a rural setting, following a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement intervention. An experimental quantitative single system research design with a pre- and four repetitive post-tests was used, conducting purposive voluntary sampling for PLWH (n = 18) and snowball sampling for PLC (n = 60). The average age of participants was 34 years old. The five measuring instruments used for both groups were the mental health continuum short-form scale, the patient health questionnaire, the satisfaction with life scale, the coping self-efficacy scale and the spirituality wellbeing scale. No significant differences were found between the urban– rural settings and data were pooled for analysis. The findings show that initial psychosocial wellbeing changes after the intervention were better sustained (over time) by the PLC than by the PLWH and seemed to be strengthened by interpersonal interaction. Recommendations included that the intervention should be re-utilised and that its tenets, content and activities be retained. A second intervention three to six months after the first should be included to achieve more sustainability and to add focused activities for the enhancement of psychosocial wellbeing. PLWH and PLC are to be encouraged to engage with innovative community mechanisms to make psychosocial wellbeing a way of life in the community at large. Keywords: life satisfaction, depression, spirituality, mental health, coping