CAUSAL ATTRIBUTIONS PREDICT RATE OF IMMUNE DECLINE IN HIV-SEROPOSITIVE GAY MEN

Research has suggested that attributions-the perceived causes of event s-may affect psychological and physical health and the immune system. The authors hypothesized that attributions reflecting negative beliefs about the self, the future, and control would affect helper T cell (C D4) decline and onset of AIDS in individuals with HIV, either directly or through associations with psychological states such as depression. HIV+ gay men (N = 86) participated in a structured interview from whi ch causal attributions were extracted and coded. Attributing negative events to aspects of the self significantly predicted faster CD4 decli ne over 18 months following the interview, controlling for potential p sychological, behavioral, social, and health mediators such as depress ion and health behavior. However, attributions did not predict AIDS di agnosis during the study period. The results support the idea that cau sal attributions related to beliefs about the self may have an influen ce on the immune system.