INTERPERSONAL SUPPORT AMONG 8-YEAR-OLD GIRLS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR PARENTS OR SIBLINGS TO AIDS

It has been estimated that 18,500 children and adolescents have been o rphaned by the AIDS epidemic, A review of the literature reveals very little about the psychosocial needs of these children, This report dis cusses themes in group therapy gleaned from transcripts of 16 tape-rec orded sessions, To supplement the content analysis of the sessions, no tes were made after each session, documenting nonverbal communication among the girls, The findings showed that 8-year-old girls were extrem ely sensitive to one another's needs and able to offer interpersonal s upport in a group setting. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company