title: The role of illness, resources, appraisal, and coping strategies in adjustment to HIV/AIDS: the direct and buffering effects.
abstract: This study examined the utility of a stress and coping model of adjustment to HIV/AIDS. A total of 114 HIV-infected gay or bisexual men were interviewed and they completed self-administered scales. Predictors included illness variables (disease stage and number of symptoms), coping resources (optimism and social support), appraisal (threat, challenge, and controllability), and coping strategies (problem- and emotion-focused). Adjustment outcomes were depression, global distress, social adjustment, and subjective health status. Results from hierarchical regression analyses indicated that better adjustment was related to an asymptomatic illness stage, fewer HIV-related symptoms, greater social support, challenge and controllability appraisals, problem-focused coping, and lower threat appraisals and reliance on emotion-focused coping. There was limited support for the stress-buffering effects of optimism. Findings support the utility of a stress and coping model of adjustment to HIV/AIDS.
authors: Behaviour Research and Therapy Centre, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. kenp@psy.uq.edu.au
authors: K I
authors: KI
authors: Pakenham
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rinaldis
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment