AEGiS-09IAC: The impact of buddy volunteer caregiving on gay men and heterosexual women engaged in supportive services to people with HIV disease.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

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The impact of buddy volunteer caregiving on gay men and heterosexual women engaged in supportive services to people with HIV disease.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:119 (abstract no. WS-D16-3)
Greene D, McVinney D; Goldwater Memorial Hospital, New York, NY.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of "buddy" volunteer caregiving for gay men and heterosexual women providing psychosocial support for people with HIV disease.

METHOD: The sample consisted of 115 volunteer trainees and 126 active buddy volunteers. Measures included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Data were analyzed using MANOVA, ANOVA, and Forced Entry Procedure of regression.

RESULTS: Results indicated that active buddy volunteers had significantly higher life satisfaction relative to trainees. Trends were found in depressive symptoms and death anxiety with lower mean scores for active volunteers. Both trainees and active volunteer depressive symptoms and death anxiety mean scores were significantly higher than normative mean scores. Depressive symptoms in active volunteers were predicted by life satisfaction and death anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS: The volunteer caregiver role may offer an opportunity to address the trauma of HIV disease by returning to the volunteer a sense of purpose and satisfaction in living. Implications include the positive impact of volunteer HIV/AIDS service. The importance of offering counseling services to HIV/AIDS volunteers is heightened by the present findings.

Keywords: AEGIS, Homosexuality, Male, Heterosexuality, HIV Infections, Voluntary Workers, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Marriage, Depression, Personal Satisfaction, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Caregivers, Quality of Life, Epidemiologic Studies, Human, Female, Male, ICA9
930606
WSD163

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.