Coping strategies and health beliefs of AIDS longterm survivors

Abstract

The goal of this study was to identify ways of coping with protracted illness and extended and “unanticipated” survival following an AIDS diagnosis. Subjects were 53 clients at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) who had been diagnosed with an opportunistic infection at least three years prior to assessment. Comparisons were made with two groups of gay men who were similar demographically, but did not have AIDS (115 HIV+, 54 HIV-). No single coping style emerged as contributing to positive survival; rather, the longterm survivors made use of numerous ways of coping, such as taking personal action with regard to medical care, re-evaluating and modifying personal, professional and interpersonal goals and relationships, community involvement, and pursuing pleasurable activities. A belief that “personal” and/or “chance” factors are associated with health outcome, as opposed to a reliance on “powerful others,” was associated with level of hopefulness. Availability of a confidante was also related to the maintenance of hope, life satisfaction and good overall functioning.