Personality dimensions, positive emotions and coping strategies in the caregivers of people living with HIV in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the relationship between personality dimensions, positive emotions and coping mechanisms of caregivers of patients living with HIV. This study used a cross-sectional research design. A sample comprising 56 caregivers was recruited from HIV/AIDS clinics in three teaching hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Data were collected between February and July 2010. Most caregivers were men, and of low socio-economic status. Individuals with both high and low extraversion used problem-focused coping, self-control and accepting responsibility, but those with low extraversion used more escape-avoidance coping, and they had also high levels of negative emotions. Those high in neuroticism used more tension-reduction coping than problem-focused coping, and experienced fewer positive emotions. Regression analysis findings revealed neuroticism as a significant predictor of negative emotions as well as emotion-focused coping, and only extraversion significantly predicted negative emotions. This research could help in devising psychological management plans for caregivers of patients living with HIV in order to assist them in coping with the burden of care.

Relationship and career challenges faced by people infected with HIV in Malaysia

“…Moreover, Case 7 also experienced being labelled by family members, which contributed to their feelings of isolation. In relation to this, when families and society treat patients negatively, so that they are isolated and excluded when found to be HIV positive, the disease will spread in a clandestine mode of transmission and a major part of the infected population will remain hidden [37][38][39][40] . There is a limitation to the study.…”

Relationship and career challenges faced by people infected with HIV in Malaysia

“…Moreover, Case 7 also experienced being labelled by family members, which contributed to their feelings of isolation. In relation to this, when families and society treat patients negatively, so that they are isolated and excluded when found to be HIV positive, the disease will spread in a clandestine mode of transmission and a major part of the infected population will remain hidden [36][37][38][39] .…”

Dispositional optimism, coping strategies and the emotional state of parents of children with nocturnal enuresis

“…On the other hand, emotion-focused strategies aimed at minimising negative emotions had an adverse effect. Studies among AIDS caregivers (Ashraf and Sitwat, 2016) showed that task-focused individuals experienced less negative emotions, the higher level of which was associated with emotion-oriented coping strategies. As pointed out by Heszen (2016), these strategies tend to be adaptive.…”

“…Parents of asthmatic children also focused on active involvement and making active attempts to understand this condition, and optimism alleviated their stress (Garro, 2011). In turn, an analysis of research on AIDS caregivers (Ashraf and Sitwat, 2016) demonstrated that people using task-oriented styles experienced less negative emotions than those using avoidance strategies or strategies focused on reducing negative emotions. As shown by Kroemeke and Kwissa-Gajewska (2011) in their research among patients with type 2 diabetes, avoidance-oriented strategies led to an increase in positive emotions and, consequently, could be considered effective stress coping methods.…”