The structure and functions of AIDS caregiving relationships.

Abstract

There is an extensive informal system o f caregiving to people with AIDS (PWAs). Several features o f the caregiver-PWA relationships were examined, including education, age, and ethnicity. Although these structural characteristics have some influence on the formation o f caregiv ing relationships, they do not influence the scope o f assistance provided by the caregiver, which is more affected by the interpersonal features o f the caregiving relationship, particularly the closeness and intimacy it encom passes. The implications o f these findings for the future o f the informal caregiving systems are discussed.Advances in nutrition and medical technology prolong life of persons living with AIDS (PWAs) far beyond the point at which in earlier years death would have occurred. However, the prolongation of life does not necessari ly translate into the prolongation of self sufficiency. On the contrary, it fre quently means that chronically impaired persons, including those with AIDS, must draw on their social or informal networks for satisfying their basic needs. Studies of such informal caregiving relationships typically focus on family members (c.f., Light 8c Lebowitz, 1989; Zarit, Pearlin, 8c Schaie, 1993) because long-term assistance to the chronically ill is provided primar This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

Stress and the Life Course: A Paradigmatic Alliance

“…Looking at our own unpublished data bearing on this aspect of timing, we find that there indeed is remarkable consensus concerning the best age for these kinds of transitional events but we find no clear indication that departure from the norms has negative effects on individuals. The only well-known event we are familiar with whose impact may be exacerbated by its offtime character is the deaths of young people with AIDS and the grief reactions to these premature losses (Pearlin, Mullan, Aneshensel, Wardlaw, & Harrington, 1994).…”

Psychotherapy use and depression among AIDS caregivers

“…Informal caregivers increasingly play an instrumental role in the provision of care to, for instance, lovers, spouses, or family members who become sick due to HIV infection. Indeed, this mass mobilization of informal support, particularly among networks of people not related by traditional family ties, is probably unprecedented (Pearlin, Mullan, Aneshensel, Wardlaw, & Harrington, 1994). Typically without professional training or compensation, caregivers to people with AIDS (PWAs) learn the skills of home health care and often reorganize their lives to assume the role of primary caregiver.…”

Vulnerabilities and Caregiving in an Ethnically Diverse HIV-Infected Population

“…In the HIV caregiving literature, prior studies have identified same sex partners, friends, distant relatives, significant others, and close family members as primary informal caregivers. Additionally, younger individuals and men are highly likely to be identified as caregivers in the HIV literature (Levin et al 2005;Pearlin et al 1994;Turner et al 1998;Wrubel and Folkman 1997). This is in contrast to typical caregiving paradigms, such as those for Alzheimer's disease, where care is typically provided by one's family of origin, blood relation kin, or significant others.…”

“…This finding suggests that common cultural values like familismo and collectivism, may have influenced Hispanic caregiving practices and that these values, through their impact on caregiving, could contribute to the favorable health outcomes documented in this group in spite of unfavorable social conditions, the "Hispanic paradox" (Markides and Eschbach 2005;Soriano 1991). Additionally, acculturation may play a significant role in the expression of these cultural values and, when paired with silence regarding sexuality and substance use within Hispanic communities, may outweigh stigmatization in the decision to provide family support to HIV infected loved ones (Pearlin et al 1994). On the contrary, White participants, who in our sample were more likely to be homosexual, may have access to wider support networks and participate openly in gay communities where care is provided by friends or other associates (Pearlin et al 1994;Turner et al 1994).…”

“…Additionally, acculturation may play a significant role in the expression of these cultural values and, when paired with silence regarding sexuality and substance use within Hispanic communities, may outweigh stigmatization in the decision to provide family support to HIV infected loved ones (Pearlin et al 1994). On the contrary, White participants, who in our sample were more likely to be homosexual, may have access to wider support networks and participate openly in gay communities where care is provided by friends or other associates (Pearlin et al 1994;Turner et al 1994). Thus, White participants were more likely to identify "Other" caregivers in our study, which included friends and neighbors.…”