Maintenance of hope in HIV-spectrum homosexual men.
The struggle to maintain hope has been described as a central theme faced by clinicians who work with HIV-spectrum people. The authors investigated psychiatric and psychosocial variables thought to be related to level of hope in a community sample of 208 HIV-positive and HIV-negative homosexual men, with the goal of identifying possible risk and protective factors in the progression of HIV infection. Overall, they found high levels of hope and low levels of current syndromal disorder or depressive symptoms. While the sample was a selected group of successful and well-educated homosexual men, it nevertheless remains noteworthy that they were able to preserve a sense of faith in their future despite HIV infection.
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032.
J G
JG
Rabkin
J B
JB
Williams
R
R
Neugebauer
R H
RH
Remien
R
R
Goetz
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012944:Social Support