Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Abstract
Title: Family conflict as a stressor among HIV+ men: its dimensions and consequences.
Authors: Semple S, Patterson T, Temoshok L, Atkinson JH, McCutchan J, Chandler J, Grant I, and the HNRC Group
Year: 1994
Publication: Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Volume: 16 Issue: S Pages: S186
Abstract:There is a paucity of research that examines the health consequences of family conflict for HIV+ individuals; however, past research has established links between family conflict and poor adaptation with a variety of health conditions. The goals of this study were: 1) describe and quantify dimensions of family conflict; and 2) examine the relationships between family conflict and psychological distress. The sample comprised 121 HIV+ heterosexual and gay men [1993 CDC staging: A(N=57); B(N=45); C(N=19)]. Three conceptually distinct dimensions of family conflict were assessed. Lifestyle conflict encompasses disagreements over family members' inability to accept the subject's lifestyle, choice of mate, or sexual orientation. HIV specific conflict captures the disagreements over disclosure of status, potential for transmitting HIV, and beliefs regarding origin of the virus. Family involvement conflict encompasses disagreements that arise over family members' lack of contact with the subject, insufficient support, unwanted advice, and attempts to plans the HIV+ person's future. Sixty-nine percent of the sample reported conflict on at least one dimension (most often with a mother or father). Multiple regression predicting Hamilton Depression from family conflict and conflict x stage of illness interaction terms, revealed that HIV specific conflict was a significant predictor of increased depressive symptoms for symptomatic subjects (CDC B & C) only. Future work should use longitudinal data to examine bi-directionality in the conflict-depression relationship.

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