A Qualitative Description of HIV-Infected African American Women's Experiences of Psychological Distress and Their Coping Strategies

HIV-infected individuals are at risk for psychological distress, including depression, sadness, and suicidality. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine 22 HIV-infected African American women's experiences of psychological distress and use of coping strategies. Data were collected through in-person one-on-one interviews until conceptual saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Four themes were found: (a) psychoemotional suffering, (b) contextual factors negatively influence the everydayness of living with HIV infection, (c) HIV-related stigma perpetuates isolation and loneliness, and (d) creating a safe haven.

Source: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care - September 30, 2016 Category: Nursing Authors: Jill N. Peltzer, Lisa Ogawa, Susan Tusher, Rose Farnan, Mary M. Gerkovich Tags: Feature Source Type: research