Psychosocial correlates of emotional distress and risk behavior in african-american women at risk for hiv infection

Adeline Nyamathi,Heidi A Wayment,Christine Dunkel-Schetter

doi:10.1080/10615809308248375

Adeline Nyamathi, Heidi A Wayment + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1080/10615809308248375

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Abstract

Abstract We examined a model of stress and coping in 749 African-American women at risk for HIV infection. Women in the sample were either homeless, intravenous drug users (IVDUs) sexual partners of IVDUs, or prostitutes. A model was hypothesized based on stress and coping theory and research. Antecedents studied were personal resources, specifically self-esteem and available support. Mediators were threat appraisal and coping efforts. Outcomes studied were emotional distress and HIV risk behaviors. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test hypothesized pathways between these variables. Forty-five percent of the variance in emotional distress in these women was explained by the model with self-esteem and avoidant coping the strongest predictors. Ten percent of the variance in risk behavior was explained by the model with emotional distress the strongest predictor. Direct and indirect pathways predicting risk behavior and distress are discussed. Implications of results for intervention and theory building are considered.

Highlights

Title Psychosocial correlates of emotional distress and risk behavior in african-american women at risk for HIV infection
We examined a model of stress and coping in 749 African-American women at risk for HIV infection
The hypothesized model represents a set of regression equations testing the specific hypotheses. This model specifies that the POMS, CES-D, and SCL-90 are hypothesized to load onto one latent factor of emotional distress

Summary

Introduction

Title Psychosocial correlates of emotional distress and risk behavior in african-american women at risk for HIV infection. Psychosocial correlates of emotional distress and risk behavior in african-american women at risk for hiv infection. We examined a model of stress and coping in 749 African-American women at risk for HIV infection. Forty-five percent of the variance in emotional distress in these women was explained by the model with self-esteem and avoidant coping the strongest predictors. Ten percent of the variance in risk behavior was explained by the model with emotional distress the strongest predictor. In sub-Saharan Africa, WHO estimates that by the end of 1992over 600,OOO cases of AIDS will occur in women (Chin & Mann, 1988) The majority of these women are expected to die within one year of diagnosis. It is estimated that over half of African-American women (56%) are infected as a result of intravenous drug use, and another 34% as a result of unprotected sex with HIV infected individuals (CDC, 1992)

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