Patterns of coping among persons with HIV infection: configurations, correlates, and change.

American Journal of Community Psychology,  September, 2003  by John A. Fleishman

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INTRODUCTION

Recent therapeutic advances have lowered mortality rates and transformed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease into a chronic condition (Kelly, Otto-Salaj, Sikkema, Pinkerton, & Bloom, 1998; Palella et al., 1998). Nevertheless, HIV-related symptoms, side effects of therapy, the financial burden of treatment, and the specter of premature death remain potent sources of stress for this population. Thus, not only is HIV infection a significant stressor in itself, but it also ushers in an array of associated stressors. A person with a chronic disease, such as HIV infection, may engage in a variety of coping responses to deal with disease-related stressors ...