Abstract
African American HIV+ and HIV− recent mothers were compared on levels of psychosocial functioning. Participants included 82 HIV+ and 122 HIV− women. HIV risk behaviors, stressors, coping resources, close relationships, coping responses, and psychological distress were examined. There were fewer statistically significant differences than expected, indicating that psychosocial functioning was relatively well preserved for the HIV+ women. There were no statistically significant differences in social support, close relationships or psychological distress. Statistically significant differences indicated that HIV− women perceived greater control over present health and sexual behaviors than HIV+ women, although HIV+ women used more sexual protection than did the HIV− women. HIV+ women also used avoidant as well as support coping more than their HIV− counterparts. These differences were also apparent in a discriminant function analysis, implying that they are independent of each other. Implications of the findings for future efforts to address HIV/AIDS in this community are discussed.
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Smith, L., Feaster, D.J., Prado, G. et al. The Psychosocial Functioning of HIV+ and HIV− African American Recent Mothers. AIDS Behav 5, 219–231 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011336525599
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011336525599