Social Interactions, Perceived Support, and Level of Distress in HIV-Positive Women

Abstract

Although powerful pharmacological therapies are helping women with HIV infection live longer, women continue to experience the stressors of chronic illness. This study used a person-environment systems framework to describe social interactions, perceived social support, and psychological distress in HIV-positive women. A convenience sample of 104 HIV-positive women living in the San Francisco Bay Area completed a questionnaire on social interactions, perceived social support, and distress. Women reported limited social interactions with family and friends and a low level of perceived social support. Social support and level of distress did not differ by ethnicity. Limited perceived social support was a significant predictor of distress in this sample of women. Supportive interactions from health care providers can be useful in mediating the relationship between the stressor of HIV disease and distress in HIV-positive women. Community-based nurses can enhance HIV-positive women's support network by providing positive and supportive interactions as they intervene with women in symptom management, case management, and other health care services.

Patterns of Risk of Depressive Symptoms Among HIV-Positive Women in the Southeastern United States

“…Although high rates of depressive symptoms have been reported in other populations of women with HIV disease (Bennetts et al, 1999;Cook et al, 2002;Hudson et al, 2001;Kaplan et al, 1997;Miles et al, 1997;Moneyham et al, 2000;Morrison et al, 2002;Moore et al, 1999), the results suggest that the prevalence of depression among rural women with HIV disease may be much higher than for other populations of HIV positive women. Because the rate of high levels of depressive symptoms reported in the study population are much higher even than that reported among rural women in general (as high as 40%) (Berry, 1993; Hoyt et al, 1997; Marx et al, 2001), it appears that the onset of a chronic illness such as HIV disease has a devastating effect on women already vulnerable to depressive symptoms because of the characteristics of the rural environments in which they live.…”

“…There is extensive evidence that social support contributes to positive adaptational outcomes, even in the most difficult of situations, and its absence contributes to poor outcomes. For example, social support has been reported to mitigate depressive symptoms of HIV-infected individuals (Heckman, Somali, Kalichman, Franzoi, & Kelly, 1998;Hudson et al, 2001).…”

“…It is postulated that the effectiveness of any one coping strategy is dependent upon the match between the strategy and what is needed in the situation (Lazarus & Folkman). In situations of chronic illness, there is extensive evidence that problem-focused coping strategies are more effective in producing positive adaptational outcomes over the long term than emotion-focused strategies (Fleishman & Fogel, 1994;Heckman et al, 1998;Hudson et al, 2001). Similar results have been reported in studies of coping with HIV disease .…”

“…Recent investigations of HIV-positive women (Bennetts et al, 1999;Cook et al, 2002;Hudson et al, 2001;Kaplan, Marks, & Mertens, 1997;Miles, Burchinal, Holditch-Davis, Wasilewski, & Christian, 1997;Moneyham, Sowell, Seals, & Demi, 2000;Moore et al, 1999;Morrison et al, 2002) report high rates of depressive symptoms. In the limited number of studies of depression in HIV/AIDS populations that included females, women consistently reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than their male counterparts (Bennetts;Berry, 1993;McCain & Cella, 1995).…”

Establishing support groups for HIV-infected women: Using experiences to develop guiding principles for project implementation

“…When receiving an HIV diagnosis, a person has to deal not only with a life-threatening disease and issues such as death and HIV-related symptoms, but also with a change in life expectancy, change in body image, decisions about disclosure, mistrust in relationships, stigma and possible social isolation and rejection (Hudson, Lee, Miramontes & Portillo, 2001;Skinner & Mfecane, 2004). The emotional experiences of women with HIV are largely affected by the stigma related to HIV/AIDS and the social support they receive from significant others (Kalichman, DiMarco, Austin, Luke & DiFonzo, 2003;Serovich, Kimberley, Mosack & Lewis, 2001;Silver, Bauman, Camacho & Hudis, 2003;Turner-Cobb, Gore-Felton, Marouf et al, 2002).…”