title: Perceived stress in HIV-infected individuals: physiological and psychological correlates.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of perceived stress with selected physiological and psychological factors in an HIV-infected, predominantly African American population and to assess the multivariable effects on perceived stress. The variables that correlated significantly with perceived stress were entered into a backward stepwise regression model. Pearson's r analysis showed significant correlations between perceived stress and state and trait anxiety, depression, HIV-related symptoms, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and fatigue. State and trait anxiety, depression and fatigue retained significance (p<0.1) in the final regression model. These factors explained approximately 80% of the variance in perceived stress. The significant interactions of multiple physiological and psychological correlates suggest that perceived stress is a complex outcome with a multifactorial etiology. Further, the model suggests that psychological factors may contribute to perceived stress in this population more than physiological factors such as HIV-related symptomatology or stage of disease.
authors.affiliation: Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. ghand@sc.edu
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Dudgeon
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013022:South Carolina; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*