Comparison of emotional distress in men with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and in men with cancer

Abstract

I N EVALUATING research findings, the potential for generalizability of findings is essential for applied nursing research. Sometimes it is assumed that the unique characteristics of a sample, for example, those sharing a specific medical diagnosis, directly affect the phenomenon of interest and limit generalizability to other populations. If the validity of generalizing findings from previous studies to similar subjects can be supported, an expanded body of research is available for application in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare emotional distress (hopelessness and depression), stressful life events, and stress resistance resources (hope and social support) in two populations with life-threatening illnesses: men with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and men with cancer. Serious psychological morbidity is not an inevitable part of AIDS or cancer. However, depression is a serious problem for approximately 25% of patients with advanced cancer (Derogatis et al., 1983), as compared with 6% in the general population (Depression Guideline Panel, 1993). An even greater prevalence of emotional distress has been reported for patients with AIDS (Atkinson & Grant, 1994). Men with human immunodeficiency virus have been reported to have more frequent and greater disruptions in quality of life than men with cancer (Ganz, Schag, Kahn, Petersen, & Hirji, 1993). Negative life events and poor social support also have been linked to depression in people with cancer (Bukberg, Penman, & Holland, 1984); difficulties with adequate social support also have been reported for men with AIDS (DiPasquale, 1990; van Servellen, Padilla, Brecht, & Knoll, 1993). METHODS Design