Document 0365
 DOCN  M9650365
 TI    Psychosocial outcomes of HIV illness in male and female African American
       clients.
 DT    9605
 AU    Linn JG; Poku KA; Cain VA; Holzapfel KM; Crawford DF; Tennessee State
       University, Murfreesboro, USA.
 SO    Soc Work Health Care. 1995;21(3):43-60. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96131845
 AB    With the rapid growth of HIV infection among African Americans, the
       issue of how medical problems relate to psychological functioning in the
       black community population has acquired new meaning and urgency for
       health care policy. To develop effective strategies to meet the mental
       health needs of infected African Americans we need a better
       understanding of the pattern of Association between HIV and
       psychological distress. The objective of this study is to test several
       hypotheses that predict depression and anxiety in black adults infected
       with HIV. Our conceptual model is derived from learned helplessness
       theory (Seligman, 1975), the concept of perceived coherence (Antonovsky,
       1980; Lewis & Gallison, 1989), and social support theory (Cohen &
       Willis, 1985). Instruments used in the study include: The Center for
       Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale (Radloff, 1977), the
       Anxiety Scale (Lewis, Firsich, and Parsell, 1979), and the Perceived
       Coherence Scale (Lewis, 1989). Data were obtained from 255 HIV infected
       black males and females (age > or = 18) who sought support, counseling,
       and maintenance services from one of three HIV care and referral centers
       in the Mid-South. The results of the study emphasize the relative
       importance of perceived physical symptoms over stage of illness for
       psychological functioning among African American adults with HIV.
       Further, the findings also demonstrate the potential importance of
       perceived coherence for psychological functioning. Black clients who
       reported higher perceived coherence, regardless of the stage of illness
       or level of HIV symptoms, had lower anxiety and depression. Significant
       gender differences in depression are also observed and implications are
       drawn for strategies to address HIV related mental health care needs of
       African Americans.
 DE    *Adaptation, Psychological  Adolescence  Adult  Anxiety/PSYCHOLOGY
       Blacks/*PSYCHOLOGY  Counseling  Depression/PSYCHOLOGY  Female
       Helplessness, Learned  Human  HIV Infections/*PSYCHOLOGY  Male  *Sick
       Role  Social Support  Social Work  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

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