title: Proactive coping and spirituality among patients who left or remained in antiretroviral treatment in St Petersburg, Russian Federation.
abstract: Positive Psychology, the study of "positive" factors or strengths and evidence-based interventions to increase them, is a rapidly developing field that is beginning to be applied to HIV care. Proactive coping and spirituality are two positive characteristics that have been examined in multiple chronic serious health conditions. In the present study, lost-to-care (LTCs; did not attend treatment for ≥12 months; n = 120) and engaged-in-care HIV clinic patients (EICs; attended treatment for ≥12 months and adherent with antiretrovirals; n = 120) in Leningrad Oblast, Russian Federation were compared on the Proactive Coping Inventory and View of God Scale. EICs had higher scores in proactive coping [t(229) = 3.69; p = .001] and instrumental [t(232) = 2.17; p = .03] and emotional [t(233) = 2.33; p = .02] support, indicating that they engage in autonomous goal setting and self-regulate their thoughts and behaviors; obtain advice and support from their social network; and cope with emotional distress by turning to others. LTCs had higher scores in avoidance coping [t(236) = -2.31; p = .02]. More EICs were spiritual, religious, or both [ χ(2)(1, N = 239) = 7.49, p = .006]. EICs were more likely to believe in God/Higher Power [χ(2)(1, N = 239 = 8.89, p = .002] and an afterlife [ χ(2)(1, N = 236) = 5.11, p = .024]; have a relationship with God/Higher Power [ χ(2)(1, N = 237) = 12.76, p = .000]; and call on God/Higher Power for help, healing, or protection [ χ(2)(1, N = 239) = 9.61]. EICs had more positive [t(238) = 2.78; p = .006] and less negative [t(236) = -2.38; p = .002] views of God. Similar proportions, but slightly more EICs than LTCs were members of a faith community; members of a12-step group; or attended religious or spiritual services, meetings, or activities. More EICs than LTCs engaged in private spiritual or religious activities, such as prayer or meditation [ χ(2)(1, N = 239) = 9.226, p = .002].
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.|b NIDA Clinical Trials Network, Delaware Valley Node , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pecoraro
authors.affiliation: c Dipartimento di Scienze Umane , Libera Università di Maria Santissima Assunta (LUMSA) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Aureliano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacciolla
authors.affiliation: d Harvard Medical School , University of Harvard , Boston , MA , USA.|e Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Conall
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Cleirigh
authors.affiliation: d Harvard Medical School , University of Harvard , Boston , MA , USA.|f Harvard School of Public Health , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mimiaga
authors.affiliation: g Dipartimento di Psicologia , Università Pontificia Salesiana (Pontifical Salesian University) , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kwiatek
authors.affiliation: h Valdman Institute of Pharmacology , First Pavlov State Medical School , St Petersburg , Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blokhina
authors.affiliation: h Valdman Institute of Pharmacology , First Pavlov State Medical School , St Petersburg , Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verbitskaya
authors.affiliation: h Valdman Institute of Pharmacology , First Pavlov State Medical School , St Petersburg , Russian Federation.|i Bekhterev Research Psychoneurological Institute , St Petersburg , Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Evgeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krupitsky
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.|b NIDA Clinical Trials Network, Delaware Valley Node , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Woody
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Russian Federation; attrition; positive psychology; retention; spirituality