Medical Trauma: Assessing Trauma and Growth Following an HIV Diagnosis

Abstract

This study investigated the traumatic impact of receiving an HIV diagnosis, as well as the potential for posttraumatic growth (PTG) following diagnosis. Both trauma symptomatology and PTG were present among participants in the sample (N = 126). The author addresses the clinical implications of these findings through a humanistic lens.

“HIV Is a Gift”: Posttraumatic Growth in Women With HIV

“…Systematic reviews of research have agreed that experiences of posttraumatic growth does exist among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; Amos, 2015;Rzeszutek & Gruszczy nska, 2018;Sherr et al, 2011). Being diagnosed and living with HIV has been described as a life-changing and potentially traumatic event (Beuthin, Bruce, & Sheilds, 2015;Zeligman, 2018), yet, women living with HIV have repeatedly found that the experience has brought about positive changes in their lives (Lennon-Dearing & Price, 2018). This article examines the presence of posttraumatic growth in women with HIV and the implications for clinical practice with this population.…”