Self-reported health in HIV-positive African American women: the role of family stress and depressive symptoms.
This prospective study examined the association between stressful life events and self-reported health in 72 inner-city, low-income African American women with HIV. Depressive symptoms were examined as a potential mediator of this association. Findings indicated that family stressors predicted deterioration in self-reported health status over the 15-month assessment period. Additionally, the association between family stress and self-reported physical health was mediated by depressive symptoms such that the strength of the association between family stress and self-reported health was no longer statistically significant after depressive symptoms were entered in the model. This study suggests a potentially important target for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at enhancing the quality of life of women with HIV.
Jones
Deborah J
DJ
Department of Psychology, Life Sciences Building, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6040, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA. deborah.jones@mail.wvu.edu
Beach
Steven R
SR
Forehand
Rex
R
Foster
Sarah E
SE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014505:Urban Population; D001741:Black or African American