Traumatisation, psychological defence style, coping, symptomatology, and social support in HIV‐positive: A pilot study

Abstract

This paper examines degree of traumatisation, defence styles, coping strategies, symptomatology, and social support in a small sample of HIV-positive men and women in an effort to ascertain the psychological implications of living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Traumatisation and the potentially mediating effects of defence styles have only been the subject of a few studies of HIV positives. The study is based on a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale, the Defence Style Questionnaire, the Coping Styles Questionnaire, the Trauma Symptom Checklist, and the Crisis Support Scale. A degree of traumatisation that warrants treatment was found together with an association between particular coping strategies and symptomatology, and particular defence styles and symptomatology, respectively. Social support had increased over time, which is contrary to other research findings on social support.

What works in coping with HIV? A meta-analysis with implications for coping with serious illness.

“…Negative affect included depression (Blaney et al, 2004; Carels et al, 1998; Carrico et al, 2006; Catz et al, 2002; Clement & Schonnesson, 1998; Commerford et al, 1994; Fleishman & Fogel, 1994; Folkman et al, 1993; Gurung, Taylor, Kemeny, & Myers, 2004; Ironson et al, 2005; Johnson & Endler, 2002; Kelly et al, 2000; Moneyham et al, 2005; Murphy et al, 2003; Namir, Wolcott, Fawzy, & Alumbaugh, 1987; Pakenham & Rinaldis, 2001; Patterson et al, 1995; Pedersen & Elklit, 1998; Penedo et al, 2001; Peterson, Folkman, & Bakeman, 1996; Safren et al, 2002; Schmitz & Crystal, 2000; Siegel & Schrimshaw, 2005; Sikkema et al, 2000; Simoni & Ng, 2000; Weaver et al, 2005; Williams et al, 2005), mood disturbance (Carels et al, 1998; Gore-Felton et al, 2002; Grassi, Caloro, Zamorani, & Ramelli, 1997; Nicholson & Long, 1990; Penedo et al, 2003; Song & Ingram, 2002; Wolf et al, 1991), emotional distress (Blaney et al, 1997; Fleishman et al, 2000; Heckman et al, 2004; Leslie et al, 2002; Moneyham et al, 1998; Pakenham & Rinaldis, 2001; Prado et al, 2004; Sharts-Hopko, Regan-Kubinski, Lincoln, & Heverly, 1996; Siegel, Karus, & Raveis, 1997; Sikkema et al, 2000), anxiety (Catz et al, 2002; Commerford et al, 1994; Johnson & Endler, 2002; Kelly et al, 2000; Murphy et al, 2003; Pedersen & Elklit, 1998; Weaver et al, 2005), anger (Weaver et al, 2005), perceived stress (Catz et al, 2002; Gore-Felton et al, 2002; Koopman et al, 2000; Weaver et al, 2004), hopelessness (Catz et al, 2002; Ironson et al, 2005), and traumatization (Pedersen & Elklit, 1998). Data were entered such that high scores indicated higher levels of negative affect.…”

“…Negative affect included depression (Blaney et al, 2004;Carels et al, 1998;Carrico et al, 2006;Catz et al, 2002;Clement & Schonnesson, 1998;Commerford et al, 1994;Fleishman & Fogel, 1994;Folkman et al, 1993;Gurung, Taylor, Kemeny, & Myers, 2004;Johnson & Endler, 2002;Moneyham et al, 2005;Murphy et al, 2003;Namir, Wolcott, Fawzy, & Alumbaugh, 1987;Pakenham & Rinaldis, 2001;Patterson et al, 1995;Pedersen & Elklit, 1998;Penedo et al, 2001;Peterson, Folkman, & Bakeman, 1996;Safren et al, 2002;Schmitz & Crystal, 2000;Siegel & Schrimshaw, 2005;Sikkema et al, 2000;Simoni & Ng, 2000;Weaver et al, 2005;Williams et al, 2005), mood disturbance (Carels et al, 1998;Grassi, Caloro, Zamorani, & Ramelli, 1997;Nicholson & Long, 1990;Penedo et al, 2003;Song & Ingram, 2002;Wolf et al, 1991), emotional distress (Blaney et al, 1997Fleishman et al, 2000;Heckman et al, 2004;Leslie et al, 2002;Moneyham et al, 1998;Pakenham & Rinaldis, 2001;Prado et al, 2004;…”