Coping and mood in HIV-positive women.
To date, little empirical research on the association of coping style with mood in HIV-positive women has been carried out. The extant literature on HIV-positive men suggests that active coping is related to diminished distress while avoidant coping is associated with elevated distress. Previous research with HIV-positive women has not consistently confirmed these relationships. To add to this literature, scores from a sample of 145 HIV-positive women who completed the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and the Mental Health Inventory were analyzed. Correlations indicated that an escape-avoidance strategy was associated with more negative emotions. Other strategies related to negative emotions included accepting responsibility and a self-controlling approach. These findings are consistent with those previously reported for HIV-positive men, suggesting that similar kinds of coping strategies may be associated with positive and negative moods among HIV-positive men and women.
Siegel
K
K
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Gluhoski
V L
VL
Karus
D
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012737:Sex Factors; D012803:Sick Role