Relationship between duration of HIV disease and diagnostic history.
The duration of being infected with HIV, i.e., chronicity, is a unique factor that can affect coping and psychological outcomes. In a secondary data analysis, 50 HIV-positive adults between 30 and 57 years were administered the Centers for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale-Revised, and the HIV Stigma Scale, along with questions about their diagnostic history. Analysis indicated that those diagnosed longer with HIV reported ruminating less on the events leading up to their diagnosis (r=-.36), reported less trauma by their diagnosis initially (r=-.31), and reported fewer depressive symptoms (r=-.30). Implications for addressing chronicity in research are posited.
Vance
David
D
University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294-2100, USA. devance@uab.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors