title: Utility of a partner communication scale and a personal meaning scale in newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons.
abstract: No studies to our knowledge have examined the Lepore Social Constraint Scale or Fife Constructed Meaning Scale in recently diagnosed HIV-infected persons. Twenty-four participants in a prospective observational cohort completed the social-constraint measure, and 47 completed the constructed-meaning scale at either 3 or 9 months after diagnosis. Participants completed a 4-week visual analogue scale to assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and validated depression and self-efficacy scales. Spearman correlation coefficients compared measures. In cross-sectional analyses, participants with higher social-constraint scores had lower constructed meaning and adherence. Higher social constraint correlated negatively with self-efficacy and positively with depression. Higher constructed-meaning scores did not correlate with adherence but correlated positively with self-efficacy and negatively with depression. The quality of HIV-infected individuals' discussions of HIV with their partners and positive constructed meaning were associated with better mental health and could be targets for improving medication adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Health Services Research and Development Center of Excellence, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buscher
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallen
authors.forename: Shubhada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sansgiry
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas