DISTRESS AND COPING AMONG WOMEN WITH HIV-INFECTION - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM A MULTIETHNIC SAMPLE

In a multiethnic sample of 53 women with HIV/AIDS, nearly 40% reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptomatology and anxiet y. Compared to a nonpatient norm, distress levels were higher among th e Latina, African-American, and white women who made up the HIV sample . Prayer and rediscovery of self were their most frequent coping respo nses, suggesting that clinicians working with HIV/AIDS populations not overlook the importance of spiritual faith and practices in adapting to HIV infection.