title: Mediational models of spirituality and depressive symptomatology among HIV-positive Puerto Rican women.
abstract: A survey of 142 Puerto Rican women living with HIV/AIDS in New York City revealed high Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scores, with 66% of the sample scoring above the conventional threshold of possible clinical depression. Most respondents (71%) were Catholic, 29% considered themselves members of a church or other place of worship, and 30% reported attending religious services 1-3 times a month. As predicted, spirituality was high and negatively associated with CES-D scores. A series of simultaneous multiple regression analyses controlling for all potentially confounding medical and sociodemographic variables demonstrated that both mastery and self-esteem scores mediated this relationship. Implications for future research and the provision of services to HIV-positive Puerto Rican women are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, Washington 98195-1525, USA. jsimoni@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: Mayra Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Ortiz
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002410:Catholicism; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D029181:Spirituality; D016387:Women's Health