The impact of improved self-efficacy on HIV viral load and distress in culturally diverse women living with AIDS: the SMART/EST Women's Project.
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether changes in self-efficacy over time would be related to changes in disease progression markers (CD4, viral load) in a sample of women with AIDS. A self-efficacy measure was developed and two sub-scales emerged via factor analysis of 391 HIV-positive women: AIDS Self-efficacy and Cognitive Behavioral Skills Self-efficacy. Subsequently, the sub-scales and an additional adherence self-efficacy item were given to 56 HIV-positive women who were measured at two time points three months apart. Half of these women were randomly assigned to a CB intervention and half to a low intensity comparison condition. Increases in AIDS Self-efficacy over the three-month period were significantly related to increases in CD4 and decreases in viral load. Similarly, increases in Cognitive Behavioral Skills Self-efficacy were significantly related to decreases in distress over time. Findings were maintained within the intervention group alone. Interestingly, increases in cognitive behavioral skills self-efficacy and increases in the self-efficacy adherence item were also significantly related to decreases in viral load. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Ironson
G
G
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA. gironson@aol.com
Weiss
S
S
Lydston
D
D
Ishii
M
M
Jones
D
D
Asthana
D
D
Tobin
J
J
Lechner
S
S
Laperriere
A
A
Schneiderman
N
N
Antoni
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D020377:Self Efficacy; D019562:Viral Load