title: Stress and coping in HIV-positive former plasma/blood donors in China: a test of cognitive appraisal theory.
abstract: Throughout the 1990s, many villagers in rural China were infected with HIV through commercial plasma/blood donation. These former plasma/blood donors (FPDs) experienced many HIV-related stressors. This study tested a cognitive appraisal model of stress and coping in a sample of HIV-positive adult FPDs. Participants (N = 207) from multiple villages completed a battery of questionnaires assessing HIV-related stress, HIV symptoms, cognitive appraisal, coping behaviors, and psychological distress. Participants reported high levels of HIV-related stress, depression, and anxiety. In a structural equation model, greater HIV-related stress, HIV symptoms, and threat appraisal were directly associated with psychological distress. HIV-related stress was also indirectly associated with psychological distress through threat appraisal. In a second model, coping was found to mediate the relationship between challenge appraisal and psychological distress. Results support the utility of cognitive appraisal theory. Stress management interventions targeting HIV-positive FPDs in China are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. christina.meade@duke.edu
authors.forename: Christina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiuyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Poppen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires