Meaning of illness and psychological adjustment to HIV/AIDS.
The authors explored the relationship between meaning of illness and psychological adjustment in persons with symptomatic HIV disease and AIDS. A group of 203 participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring meaning of illness, problem-focused coping, social support, psychological well-being, and depressed mood. Positive meaning was associated with a higher level of psychological well-being and a lower level of depressed mood. Further, meaning contributed significantly to predicting both psychological well-being and depressed mood over and above the contributions of problem-focused coping and social support. These findings have implications for HIV coping and adjustment models and for HIV-related psychotherapy.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA. efarber@emory.edu
Eugene W
EW
Farber
Hamid
H
Mirsalimi
Karen A
KA
Williams
J Stephen
JS
McDaniel
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires