title: Perceived health, HIV illness, and mental distress in African-American clients of AIDS counseling centers.
abstract: The development of effective coping strategies may require that adults with HIV disease have an accurate, and to the extent possible, positive perception of their own health status. This has been found to be lacking among HIV-infected people with limited education/information, including many minority adults. The objective of this study was to test several hypotheses that predict depression and perceived health in African-American adults with HIV disease. Data were obtained from 255 HIV-infected black adults (age > 18) who sought support, counseling, and maintenance services from one of three HIV care and referral centers in the Mid-South. The results emphasized that perceived health status may fulfill a psychological distress moderating or distress-aggravating function for persons with HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Tennessee State University, Nashville, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Anema
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodess
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Cain
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological