Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERIENCES OF AIDS PATIENTS WITH A COMPARISON TO TERMINAL CANCER PATIENTS
Diss Abstr Int [B]; 48(10):2921 1988. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/89647845 Cleveland PH; Univ. of Georgia
Abstract:
This study examines psychosocial variables in the process of AIDS in order to describe the experience of AIDS patients (pts) and analyze differences in state anxiety, trait anxiety, and life events 2 yr before diagnosis in cancer pts and AIDS pts. The sample was composed of 30 AIDS pts and 21 cancer pts. AIDS pts were from AID Atlanta and cancer pts were outpatients attending an oncology clinic for chemotherapy. The AIDS group completed Holmes Schedule of Recent Events, two measures of anxiety (state anxiety and trait anxiety), a loneliness scale, a social support network inventory, and a questionnaire which included demographic, life-style, and health-related variables. The cancer group completed the Holmes Schedule of Recent Experience and two measures of anxiety (state anxiety and trait anxiety). Measures of central tendency and variability were used to describe the experience of AIDS pts. Critical variables in the process were loneliness and support variables: perception of support, number of people in the support network, frequency of contact with focal persons, and the intensity of feelings for the focal persons. T-tests examined the differences in (a) the number of stressful life events in the last 2 yr between cancer pts and AIDS pts, (b) the amount of state anxiety in cancer pts and AIDS pts, and (c) the incidence of trait anxiety in cancer pts and AIDS pts. There was a significant relation between trait anxiety and state anxiety in this sample of AIDS pts. It was further found that AIDS pts have more trait anxiety and state anxiety than do cancer pts. A multiple regression equation was calculated to examine the relation of the progress of the disease to a linear combination of state anxiety, pt's living arrangement, the number of people in the social network system, and pt's perception of the attitudes of professionals who work with the pt. The combination of these variables was not significantly related to the progress-of-disease scores of AIDS pts. There was a significant negative relation between loneliness and perception of support; a positive relation between loneliness and state anxiety; and a positive relation between perceived affective response and affected involvement with the family of origin. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.) (Full text available from University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI, as Order No: AAD87-24599)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY Anxiety/PSYCHOLOGY Human Life Change Events Neoplasms/PSYCHOLOGY *Sick Role Social Support Terminal Care/*PSYCHOLOGY THESIS
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1989. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
