An assessment of self-esteem in HIV-positive patients.
The objective of this research is to assess how self-esteem levels differ in HIV-infected subjects in three different risk behaviours: drug addicts, homosexuals, heterosexuals. The sample (n = 104) consisted of: drug addicts (n = 46); homosexual (n = 26); heterosexuals (n = 32). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) were used. A covariance analysis was used to assess the effect of the different personality traits on the 'self-esteem variable' and to eliminate the variance caused by the personality variables. Bonferroni's T-test was used to assess which group contributed to confute the hypothesis of equivalence between the RSES means of the groups. A significant association between the HIV-infection risk behaviour and the level of self-esteem was shown; this association was assessed by eliminating the effect of personality traits. The risk behaviour as well as the personality traits were both indicative of the level of self-esteem. The assessment of each group revealed that the drug addicts had a relatively lower self-esteem level (mean = 35.251) than the homosexuals (mean = 38.698) and the heterosexuals (mean = 38.227). In conclusion the RSES enables clinicians to identify subjects with low levels of self-esteem who need to be psychologically assessed within a vast population of HIV-infected patients.
Visintini
R
R
Department of Neuropsychic Sciences, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Bagnato
M
M
Campanini
E
E
Fontana
S
S
Fossati
A
A
Novella
L
L
Maffei
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology