title: Reflections on living with HIV over time: exploring the perspective of HIV-infected women over 50.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Approximately 32.7% of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the USA are now over the age of 50. Women comprise a significant percentage of the US HIV epidemic and the percentage of women diagnosed with HIV continues to grow; however, little is known about women's experiences living and coping with HIV over time. The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of US women over 50 living with HIV to better understand how they make sense of their diagnosis and cope with their illness over time and during the aging process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen women (mean age = 56.79, SD = 4.63) referred from Boston-area organizations and hospitals completed one-time, in-depth individual interviews, out of which 47% of the participants were identified as Black/African Americans, and 37% as White. The average time since diagnosis was 16.32 years (SD = 5.70). Inclusion criteria included: (1) female sex, (2) aged 50 or older, (3) HIV diagnosis, and (4) English speaking. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and NVivo 9 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings are described across the following themes: (1) experiences at diagnosis, (2) uncertainty of disease course, (3) acceptance, and (4) living 'well' with HIV. Participants appeared to be well adjusted to their HIV diagnosis and described a progression to acceptance and survivorship; they identified strategies to 'live well' in the context of HIV. For some, health-related uncertainty about the future remained. These findings were organized into a model of coping with HIV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Themes and issues identified by this study may help guide interventions across the lifespan for women with HIV.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Psaros
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barinas
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: C Andres
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bedoya
authors.forename: Elyse R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Safren
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: HIV/AIDS; adjustment; aging; coping; women