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Though African American and Hispanic women accounted for 14% of the female population in the US, they represented 66% of the total HIV/AIDS diagnoses among women in 2007. Among men living with HIV, increased coping self efficacy following a cognitive behavioral intervention has been related to decreased distress, anxiety, anger and confusion, but comparable studies had not been carried out with HIV+ women.The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of changes in self efficacy following a cognitive behavioral stress management/expressive supportive therapy (CBSM+) intervention on depression and anxiety in low income, urban predominantly minority women living with AIDS. Women (n = 451) were randomized to a group CBSM+ or individual informational intervention condition and completed baseline, post-intervention and long-term follow-up (12 months) assessments of depression, anxiety and self efficacy. Women who were assigned to the CBSM+ group condition and increased their level of cognitive behavioral self efficacy reported significant decreases in anxiety and depression at post-intervention and long-term follow-up in comparison with controls who did not improve. Results suggest that both cognitive behavioral skills and a concomitant increase in the perceived level of self efficacy in the use of those skills are predictive of distress reduction.

Attachment information obtained from the PBI and the AAI is comparable in participants with optimal attachment histories, but not in participants showing idealisation or anger towards their mothers. Caution is, therefore, advisable when using the PBI to obtain attachment information in clinical samples where suboptimal attachment histories are likely.