FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PEDIATRIC ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME - SOURCES OF STRESS AND COPING

This study explores stress and coping among inner-city, ethnically div erse families with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected childre n. Caregivers, siblings, and HIV-infected children from 25 families re sponded to a semistructured interview on the psychosocial impact of HI V. Families were primarily African-American and Latino and from low so cioeconomic-status backgrounds. Approximately one third of the childre n lived with an HIV-positive birth parent, one third with a grandmothe r, and one third in foster or adoptive care. The majority of caregiver s were single mothers who confronted major life events and who were ov erextended with caregiving responsibilities. Compared with uninfected caregivers, HIV-infected parents reported more isolation and fewer fin ancial and support resources. All children were particularly vulnerabl e to separations and loss, with uninfected siblings reporting anger an d burden from caregiving tasks. Although some families had coping reso urces, many families might benefit from family-focused mental health s ervices, particularly those that reduce isolation, promote family func tioning and provide respite care. coping.