| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: HIV+ parents: relationships of economic strain to parental role functioning. | | Authors: Semple S, Patterson T, Jeste S, Shaw W, Grant I | | Year: 1997 | | Publication: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | | Volume: 19 Issue: S Pages: S196 | | Abstract:HIV positive (HIV+) parents may be at "high risk" for experiencing economic strain and parenting difficulties. Thus, we examined the relationship between economic strain and parental role functioning in a sample of 76 HIV+ parents (30 mothers, 46 fathers) with at least one child under 18 years. The Social Adjustment Scale was used to assess economic strain and five dimensions of parental role functioning: friction, affection, involvement, communication, and resentment toward children. Our sample was divided into two groups (high versus low economic strain). Twenty percent of HIV+ parents reported severe economic strain (1 standard deviation above the mean. The high versus low strain groups did not differ on age, education, ethnicity, % AIDS diagnosis, or number of children. The high economic strain group, however, was comprised of significantly more women than men. A hierarchical discriminant function analysis was performed using the five dimensions of parental role functioning to distinguish between high versus low economic strain parents. One discriminant function was calculated [chi square=15.8, p<.01], accounting for 28% between group variability. Three dimensions of parental role functioning distinguished economically strained parents from low strain parents. After adjusting for parental depressive symptoms, economically-strained parents reported more friction, more resentment, and more communication difficulties with children as compared to the low economic strain group. High and low strain parents did not differ in their involvement with or affection toward their children. These findings suggest a need for greater awareness of the economic strain faced by HIV+ parents and its potential impact on the parent-child relationship. |
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