Challenges associated with increased survival among parents living with HIV.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined sociodemographic and psychosocial factors that predict survival among parents living with HIV.


METHODS
Parents with HIV (n = 307) were recruited from 1993 to 1995 in New York City and repeatedly assessed. Survival was monitored among the sample (81% mothers; 45% Latino, 34% African American).


RESULTS
Over a median period of 28 months (range = 0-53 months), 44% (n = 135) of the parents died. Having an AIDS diagnosis and being African American were associated with earlier death. Sex, age, and financial status were not related to survival. Parents who survived had initially higher levels of anxiety that decreased over time; in contrast, parents who died reported initially lower, but constant, levels of anxiety over time. After HIV diagnostic status was controlled for, it was found that parents who reported having more children, using a coping style of seeking social support, and being sexually active at baseline survived longer.


CONCLUSIONS
The counterintuitive findings raise hypotheses regarding the role of change and responsibilities in the survival of parents with HIV.
Lee
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, UCLA, 10920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA. mblee@ucla.edu
Rotheram-Borus
M J
MJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016019:Survival Analysis