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Persons with AIDS and their support persons: stress and life satisfaction
Author(s) -
Darling Carol Anderson,
Olmstead Spencer B.,
Tiggleman Cornelius
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1254
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , psychology , life satisfaction , perception , clinical psychology , social support , family life , caregiver stress , family support , stress (linguistics) , medicine , disease , social psychology , gender studies , dementia , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , neuroscience , sociology , physical therapy
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of historical family functioning, family stress, coping, perceived impact of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and health stress upon the life satisfaction of persons with AIDS (PWAs) and their support persons. Utilizing Family Stress Theory, a survey research design was employed involving 114 PWAs and 114 support persons. Historical family functioning was indirectly related to life satisfaction as mediated by family coping. Current family stress was indirectly related to life satisfaction as mediated by perception of stress. Female support persons experienced greater perceptions of caregiver stress. Family and health‐care professionals need to be aware of the importance of family stress and coping as they influence the health stress and life satisfaction of PWAs and their support persons. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.