Description: This presentation discusses research on anger within a human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) population in relation to stigma and anxiety. The authors hypothesized that anxiety and HIV-stigma would account for a significant amount of variance in anger. Results of the authors' study provide support for interventions aimed at reducing anxiety and increasing coping skills for HIV+ adults; perhaps by influencing these variables, the effects of stigma will have less impact on HIV-related health overall.

Description: This presentation discusses research on stigma, forgiveness, and depression in HIV positive women. The authors hypothesize: (1) Higher levels of perceived HIV-related stigma will be associated with higher levels of depression, (2) Higher levels of forgiveness will be associated with lower levels of depression, (3) Higher levels of forgiveness will be associated with lower levels of perceived HIV-related stigma, and (4) Forgiveness will moderate the relationship between perceived HIV-related stigma and depression. This presentation discusses the authors' research, literature review, methodology, results, limitations, clinical implications.

Description: This presentation discusses research on perceived stress as a mediator between self-efficacy and depression in human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) individuals. In persons living with HIV, treatment has shifted towards chronic illness management since the introduction of highly active retroviral therapy. Coping with life threatening illness is stressful. Stress occurs when environmental stressors (e.g., HIV+ stigma) overwhelm an individual's ability to handle them effectively. HIV+ individuals' inability to cope with stress is associated with increased depression, and worse treatment outcome (Remien et al., 2006). Self-efficacy is perceived feeling of control over a taxing situation. Behaviorally, HIV+ self-efficacious individuals adaptively manage stress (Colodro, Godoy-Izquierdo, & Godoy, 2010). Stress uses resources needed to deal with depression; managing stress may reduce psychological impairment (Scott-Sheldon, Fielder, & Kalichman, 2008). The authors hypothesize that higher self-efficacy is associated with decreased depression, and that stress mediates this relationship. Future longitudinal studies focusing on self-efficacious stress interventions may reduce depression in HIV+ individuals.

Description: This presentation discusses research on predictors of a negative sense of control for sample groups with HIV. People living with HIV (PLH) may experience loss of control over the disease, thus a negative sense of control, increasing stress. Stress undermines the immune system. Behavioral disengagement represents a negative sense of control, while resilience represents a positive sense of control over stressful events. Using the transactional model of stress and coping as a conceptual framework, the authors explored the relationships between negative sense of control, behavioral disengagement, and resilience. Self-report data was collected from 64 PLH recruited from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. After the authors controlled for age, the authors found that resilience and behavioral disengagement account for 26% of the variance in negative sense of control (Adj. R2= .26, F(3,60)= 8.394, p<.001). Negative sense of control was negatively associated with resilience and positively associated with behavioral disengagement. These findings suggest that public health interventions to improve a sense of control for PLH could promote resilience and influence behavioral disengagement.

Description: This presentation discusses research on parental social support as a mediator of stress and quality of life in HIV+ individuals. Social support is associated with increased medical adherence (Gonzalez et al. 2004) and improved Quality of Life (QOL) (Scott-Sheldon et al. 2008) in individuals with HIV. Not explored thoroughly in the literature are the specific associations of parental social support for adults. Research has yet to specifically explore the relationship between Parental Social Support, Stress and QOL. Using the Buffering Hypothesis Theory (Cohen & McKay, 1984), the authors posit that Social Support and Stress will be predictors of QOL, and Social Support will mediate the relationship between Stress and QOL. The authors' results suggest a link between Perceived Stress, Parental Support and QOL. They indicate that although Perceived Stress and Parental Social Support predict QOL, Social Support may not significantly buffer the relationship between Stress and QOL. This research is important as it helps inform the development of effective interventions that target parental social support in HIV individuals. Future research should continue to examine outcomes associated with Parental Social Support in Adults.