INTERPERSONAL DISTANCE AND COPING IN CHILDREN WITH HIV AND CANCER

We compared interpersonal distance and coping among two groups of pres chool pediatric patients diagnosed with either HIV or cancer and a thi rd group of healthy children. In comparison to the children with cance r, children with HIV indicated greater mother-child interpersonal dist ance-a finding that correlated with mothers' reports of social withdra wal. Other notable findings included increased father-child distance i n the HIV population and mother-child discrepancies of perceived inter personal distance, In addition, seven of the children with HIV indicat ed that the adults turn away-a finding that correlated with the childr en's knowledge of their illness. We also explored the possible role of protective communication in the pediatric HIV population.