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This study describes the experience of young adults' adaptation to living with the chronic sexually transmitted disease genital herpes. Interview data from 70 adults with a diagnosis of genital herpes were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Findings from the study indicated that the process of adaptation to living with genital herpes involves regaining a valued sense of self. The process occurs in three stages. In the first stage, young adults strive to protect themselves from devaluation due to the stigmatization connected with the disease. In the second stage, they try to renew their sense of self by reaching out and balancing their lives. In the third stage, they adopt a management style that enables them to preserve their sense of self Implications for further research and for practice are suggested.

Clinical features of genital herpes, perceived causes, stress symptoms, treatments, and psychosocial factors in 70 young adults as compared to normative data for non-patient controls are described. The clinical features of the disease were congruent with those of other groups studied. Stress was viewed as the major cause of recurrence, headaches the major stress symptom, and acyclovir (an antiviral drug), was the major treatment. Statistically significant differences were found between scores obtained from the sample of young adults with genital herpes on three of four standardized psychological instruments when compared with normative data for non patient controls. Young adults with genital herpes had a lower self concept, more psychopathology, a greater frequency of daily hassles, and less intensity of uplifts. No differences were found, however, between the two groups in scores on depression.