THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LONELINESS, INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCE, AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS IN HIV-INFECTED MEN

The relationships among interpersonal competence, loneliness, depressi on, and immune status were examined in HIV-infected men and healthy co ntrols. A sample of 108 men [88 HIV-1 antibody seropositive (HIV+) and 20 HIV-1 antibody seronegative (HIV-)] completed the Interpersonal Co mpetence Questionnaire at baseline and the UCLA Loneliness scale at tw o consecutive six-month timepoints as part of the psychosocial compone nt of the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center longitudinal study. Abso lute number of CD4+ helper cells and depression were determined at bas eline. Among seropositive men, loneliness was negatively correlated wi th self-perceived competence in all five relationship domains assessed : initiation of social interactions, turning down unreasonable demands (negative assertion), self-disclosure, providing emotional support to others, and conflict management. Competence or level of comfort in in itiation of social interaction and management of interpersonal conflic t accounted for 39% of the variance in loneliness at baseline. Level o f comfort in initiation of interactions and self-disclosure accounted for 44% of the variance in loneliness at followup. After controlling f or loneliness at baseline, an additional 12% of the variance in loneli ness at followup was accounted for by all domains of interpersonal com petence, suggesting that these dimensions of social skill may be parti al determinants of loneliness. High-lonely HIV+ men had significantly fewer CD4+ helper cells than did low-lonely HIV+ men. The relationship between loneliness and CD4+ cell number was independent of stage of H IV disease. Lonely HIV+ men may be at greater risk for disease progres sion. Clinical intervention efforts to reduce loneliness and increase quality of life should consider targeting interpersonal skills.