Autobiographical memory specificity and the persistence of depressive symptoms in HIV-positive patients: rumination and social problem-solving skills as mediators.
Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at elevated risk for depressive conditions, which in turn can negatively impact health-related behaviours and the course of illness. The present study tested the role of autobiographical memory specificity and its interaction with perceived stress in the persistence of depressive symptoms among dysphoric HIV-positive individuals. Additionally, we examined whether rumination and social problem solving mediated these effects. Results indicated that memory specificity moderated the impact of perceived stress, such that perceived stress was more strongly associated with follow-up depressive symptoms among those with greater memory specificity. Rumination, but not social problem solving, mediated this effect. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
Paula K
PK
Yanes
Gene
G
Morse
Chiu-Bin
CB
Hsiao
Leonard
L
Simms
John E
JE
Roberts
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D011340:Problem Solving; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013850:Thinking