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Coping Styles and Psychosocial-Related Variables in HIV-Infected Patients

Received April 11, 1997; revised August 6, 1997; accepted August 19, 1997. From the Department of Medical Sciences of Communication and Behavior, Section of Psychiatry, the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatric Service, University of Ferrara, Italy; and the Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Anna Hospital, Ferrara, Italy. Address reprint requests to Dr. Grassi, Clinica Psichiatrica Università di Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. E-mail: L.grassi{at}dns.unife.it

The study examined the relationship between coping and psychosocial variables (psychological stress symptoms, locus of control, emotional repression, and social support) among 108 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The authors administered several tests, including one that measures fighting spirit and degree of hopelessness, to assess each patient's individual coping style. The patients who were adjusting well to their HIV-positive status tended to have a higher level of fighting spirit and lower degree of hopelessness than those patients who were not adjusting well to their HIV-positive status. A coping style based on incapacity to face and confront HIV infection was associated with symptoms of psychological stress, repression of anger, external locus of control, and low social support in the latter group. These patients showed symptoms indicating maladjustment to HIV infection (43% of the sample) and differed from the "noncases" (the well-adjusted patients) in that the former group reported inadequate coping responses (lower fighting spirit and higher hopelessness, fatalistic attitude, and anxious preoccupation) and poorer social support, and had a greater tendency to repress anger and express sadness. The data support the hypothesis that coping with HIV infection is a complex phenomenon involving multiple and interacting variables. Interventions aimed at improving the coping style for many HIV patients are needed.

Key Words: AIDS • HIV • Coping • Adjustment

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