When children tell their friends they have AIDS: possible consequences for psychological well-being and disease progression.
OBJECTIVE
Past research has demonstrated that self-disclosure of traumatic or secretive information produces observable health benefits. Self-disclosure has also been linked, albeit less consistently, to improved psychological health. The present study examined the physiological and psychological consequences of children's self-disclosure of their HIV/AIDS status to friends.


METHODS
Data were collected twice, one year apart, from 64 caregiver-child dyads in which all of the children were infected with HIV. Dependent variables included the child's CD4%, self-concept, and level of behavioral problems.


RESULTS
Children who had disclosed their HIV+ diagnosis to friends during the 1-year course of the study had a significantly larger increase in CD4% than children who had told their friends before the study or those children who had not yet disclosed their HIV+ diagnosis to friends. This effect remained significant when the child's age and level of medication (protease inhibitors) were statistically controlled. Self-disclosure to friends did not impact the child's behavior or self-concept.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to investigate the effect of self-disclosure in children. The results were consistent with previous studies showing the positive health consequences of self-disclosure in adults, and suggest potentially important implications for professional and familial care givers of HIV/AIDS individuals.
Sherman
B F
BF
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA.
Bonanno
G A
GA
Wiener
L S
LS
Battles
H B
HB
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014481:United States