title: HIV-positive mothers with late adolescent/early adult children: "empty nest" concerns.
abstract: In-depth interviews about the "empty nest" were conducted with 57 HIV-positive mothers of late adolescent/early adult children. Empty nest worries included the following: (a) identity loss, (b) loss of social support, (c) financial insecurity, (d) worsening of physical health, and (e) death/dying. Hopes included the following: (a) self-improvement, (a) change of life focus, (c) travel, (d) romantic partners, and (e) familial ties. Respondents' HIV/AIDS status colored their thoughts/feelings about the empty nest; some worries were specific to being HIV positive and would not occur for nonill mothers. Midlife HIV-positive women need health care/social service resources as they navigate health and social-psychological challenges to successful aging.
authors.affiliation: Health Risk Reduction Projects, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90025-7539, USA. dmurphy@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Kathleen Johnston
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Herbeck
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult