title: HIV-infected individuals with high coping self-efficacy are less likely to report depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study from Denmark.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Having effective ways to cope helps HIV-infected individuals maintain good psychological and physical well-being. This study investigated the relationship between coping self-efficacy levels, as determined by the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE), HIV status disclosure, and depression in a Danish cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, the CSE was administered to 304 HIV-infected individuals to measure their confidence in their ability to cope with HIV infection. HIV status disclosure was assessed on a three-point scale: living openly with the disease, partly openly, or secretly. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression prevalence and severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CSE score was significantly related to depression (Spearman's rho = -0.71; the test of H0: BDI and coping, probability >t=0.0001). There was a significant relationship between higher CSE scores and living openly with HIV. The risk of depression was four times higher in HIV-infected individuals who did not disclose their HIV status (i.e. who lived 'secretly'; odds ratio = 4.1) than in individuals who lived openly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those with low CSE scores were more likely to report living secretly with HIV and to be depressed. Disclosing HIV may constitute a social stressor, and a lack of coping self-efficacy may increase the likelihood of non-disclosure and depression. Interventions that enhance self-efficacy may help in managing the demands of daily life with HIV, increase disclosure, and reduce depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, 8200 Aarhus N., Denmark. Electronic address: lottrodk@rm.dk.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodkjaer
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chesney
authors.affiliation: The Patient Involvement Research Program, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus C., Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lomborg
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, 8200 Aarhus N., Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, 8200 Aarhus N., Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sodemann
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012650:Self Disclosure; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Coping; Depression; Disclosure; HIV; Self-efficacy; Stress