"Putting a face" on HIV infection/AIDS in older adults: a psychosocial context.
Older HIV-1-seropositive individuals largely have not been investigated with respect to their psychosocial characteristics. In this article, the authors review research reported to date regarding the psychosocial context of this growing subgroup of HIV-1-infected individuals. Specifically, the authors consider the characteristics of mood state, life stressor burden, social support network, and coping strategies that individuals older than 50 years are more likely to adopt in adjusting to HIV-1 infection. The authors also separately consider issues of caregiving burden. Data supporting a theoretically based stressor-support-coping model are presented and related to targeting psychotherapeutic interventions for this age group.
Goodkin
Karl
K
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA. KGoodkin@med.miami.edu
Heckman
Timothy
T
Siegel
Karolynn
K
Linsk
Nathan
N
Khamis
Imad
I
Lee
Diana
D
Lecusay
Robert
R
Poindexter
Cynthia C
CC
Mason
Sally J
SJ
Suarez
Paola
P
Eisdorfer
Carl
C
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological