title: Exploring positive adjustment in HIV positive African women living in the UK.
abstract: Research into living with HIV/AIDS has to date mainly focused on quality of life and there is little on the adjustment process for this group. The numbers of African women living with HIV/AIDS in the UK is growing and yet little is known about the adjustment experience for these women. This study explored aspects of positive adjustment to living with HIV/AIDS among a sample of African women living in London, UK. Transcripts of semi-structured interviews with 12 women were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Two superordinate themes emerged inductively from the data: positive changes in coping (subthemes: positive interpretation of their situation and positive behavioural changes) and positive growth since the HIV diagnosis (subthemes: changes in the value of life and, changes in goals and opportunities). While these women acknowledged the negative impact of living with HIV/AIDS, all participants mentioned changes in health behaviours to help regain mastery of their lives and comparing with others better-off and worse-off was used to enhance self-esteem and view their situation positively. The data show evidence for Taylor's Cognitive Adaptation Theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK. bridget.dibb@brunel.ac.uk
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dibb
authors.forename: Tamra
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamalesh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012917:Social Adjustment