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Coping, Social Support, and Attachment Style as Psychosocial Correlates of Adjustment in Men and Women with HIV/AIDS

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial correlates of adjustment to HIV/AIDS in a sample of 137 HIV-positive persons (78 men and 59 women). Multiple regression analysis was used to examine relationships between perceived quality of general social support, three attachment styles, and three coping styles with total score on Positive States of Mind Scale (PSOMS), our measure of adjustment. The influence of demographic and medical status variables was also accounted for. PSOMS total score was significantly associated with greater satisfaction with social support related to HIV/AIDS, more secure attachment style, and less use of behavioral disengagement in coping with HIV/AIDS. These results indicate that for people with HIV or AIDS, those individuals who are more satisfied with their relationships, securely engaged with others, and more directly engaged with their illness are more likely to experience positive adjustment. Implications for physical health outcome and opportunities for intervention are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford University, Stanford, California

    Julie M. Turner-Cobb, Cheryl Gore-Felton, Feyza Marouf, Cheryl Koopman, Peea Kim, Dennis Israelski & David Spiegel

  2. USA

    Dennis Israelski

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  1. Julie M. Turner-Cobb
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  2. Cheryl Gore-Felton
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  3. Feyza Marouf
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  4. Cheryl Koopman
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  6. Dennis Israelski
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  7. David Spiegel
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Correspondence to Julie M. Turner-Cobb.

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Turner-Cobb, J.M., Gore-Felton, C., Marouf, F. et al. Coping, Social Support, and Attachment Style as Psychosocial Correlates of Adjustment in Men and Women with HIV/AIDS. J Behav Med 25, 337–353 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015814431481

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