The Nature and Correlates of Psychological Adjustment in Gay Men with AIDS‐Related Conditions¹

Abstract

This study assessed differences in the psychological adjustment of gay men who tested positive for the antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Twenty‐one were symptomatic for AIDS, and 27 were asymptomatic. A group of 15 gay men who tested negative for the HIV was included as a comparison group. Men in the three groups were equivalent on demographic variables. Symptomatic men reported more health problems than either asymptomatic or seronegative men. Relative to men who were symptomatic, those who were asymptomatic reported more death anxiety, less optimism, and greater severity of psychological distress, and reported more frequent use of avoidance and distancing as coping strategies. The poor psychological functioning of asymptomatic subjects was attributed to the uncertainty regarding their future health status. Generally, positive psychological well‐being of symptomatic and asymptomatic men was related to the infrequent use of avoidance coping strategies and high satisfaction with perceived social support.

Interdependence of Stress Processes Among African American Family Members: Influence of HIV Serostatus and a New Infant

“…Whereas these coping responses have been primarily associated with negative psychological outcomes for the individual in HIV infection (Kurdek and Siesky, 1990;Remien et al, 1992;Commerford et al, 1994;Fukunishi et al, 1996;Rosengard and Folkman, 1997;Blaney et al, 1997;Feaster et al, 2000;Hart et al, 2000), there have been several cases where avoidant coping responses have been found to be adaptive in HIV infection. Antoni, et al (1990) found denial positively related to phytohemagglutinin values (a measure of CD4 cell function).…”

Psychosocial factors and psychological symptoms: HIV in a public health setting

“…For example, several studies have demonstrated a relationship between satisfaction with social support and psychological well-being (Blaney et al, 1990;Hays, Turner, & Coates, 1992;Kurdek & Siesky, 1990;Leserman, Perkins & Evans, 1992). Other research has looked beyond satisfaction with social support and has examined social network characteristics of the support recipient's social connections.…”

“…Therefore, it is hypothesized that the greater the life stress, the greater the psychological symptomatology. Second, several studies have demonstrated a relationship between social support satisfaction and psychological well-being (Blaney et al, 1990;Kurdek & Siesky, 1990;Leserman, Perkins, & Evans, 1992). Hays et al (1992) showed that men who were more satisfied with the social support they received were less likely to be depressed one year later.…”

Stress processes in HIV-positive African American mothers: Moderating effects of drug abuse history

“…Coping-focused stress process models assume that when confronted with stressors, individuals consider their coping resources and then make a decision as to which coping responses to employ. Coping responses are important determinants of psychological distress generally (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984;Holahan & Moos, 1986), as well as specifically for psychological adjustment in HIV-positive persons (Namir, Alumbaugh, Fawzy, & Wolcott, 1987;Kurdek & Siesky, 1990). We hypothesize that active coping and support coping will have a direct negative effect on psychological distress (Pathway F in Figure 1).…”