Does perceived social support buffer the impact of psychological distress on health-related quality of life among people living with tuberculosis?

People living with tuberculosis have been reported to encounter greater distress than normal population, and this distress is known to impact their quality of life adversely. However, studies examining the mechanisms that could mitigate this adverse impact of distress are sparse, hence this study. We investigated whether perceived social support (including emotional and instrumental support from family, friends, and significant others) plays a buffering role in the link between psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with tuberculosis (PLWTB). We utilized a cross-sectional design to conveniently sample 200 tuberculosis patients drawn from a health facility in South-Eastern Nigeria. These participants completed measures of relevant variables. Results showed that psychological distress was negatively associated with HRQoL. Perceived social support (from family, friends, and significant others) significantly predicted HRQoL. Perceived social support moderated the link between psychological distress and HRQoL, but did not buffer against the association. Management of psychological distress associated with tuberculosis health condition should therefore be a major focus in efforts to improve the health and well-being of TB patients.