title: Shared Illness and Social Support Within Two HIV-Affected African American Communities.
abstract: A key source of resiliency within HIV-affected African American communities is informal social support. Data from dyadic conversations and focus groups were used to address the following research question: What are HIV-positive African Americans' social support experiences within their informal social networks in response to HIV-related problems? Circumstances that exacerbated HIV-related problems included others' fear of contagion, reticence to be involved, judgment and rejection, and disregard for privacy Support from HIV-negative others buffered the impact of problems when others communicate interest, take the initiative to help, or make a long-term investment in their success. Support from other HIV-positive persons was helpful given the shared connection because of HIV, the opportunity to commiserate about what is mutually understood, and the fight for mutual survival Based on these findings, we offer suggestions for future research and social network interventions aimed at bolstering connections between HIV-positive peers, reducing stigma, and improving family support.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA kemosack@uwm.edu.
authors.forename: Katie E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mosack
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wendorf
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States
keywords: African Americans; HIV/AIDS; Midwestern USA; families, caregiving; qualitative narrative analysis; relationships, content analysis; social support