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Emotional adjustment in survivors of sexual assault living with HIV‐AIDS
Author(s) -
Kalichman Seth C.,
Sikkema Kathleen J.,
DiFonzo Kari,
Luke Webster,
Austin James
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1016247727498
Subject(s) - psychiatry , anxiety , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , poison control , medicine , psychological intervention , mental health , psychology , suicide prevention , medical emergency , economics , macroeconomics
This study examined history of sexual assault in 357 men and women living with HIV‐AIDS. Participants completed measures of demographic characteristics, sexual assault history emotional distress and psychiatric symptoms, substance use, and sexual behaviors. Results showed that 68% of women and 35% of men living with HIV‐AIDS reported a history of sexual assault since age 15. History of sexual assault was related to history of substance use and mental health treatment. Sexual assault survivors reported greater anxiety, depression, and symptoms of borderline personality and were significantly more likely to report recent unprotected intercourse than persons who had not been sexually assaulted. Results suggest tailoring secondary prevention interventions to meet the needs of HIV‐positive survivors of sexual assault.