COPING AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG PEOPLE WITH AIDS

This study examined coping behaviors of people with AIDS, using a larg e sample (N = 736) that was both geographically and sociodemographical ly diverse. In-person interviews were conducted with people receiving AIDS-related medical or social services; follow-up interviews were con ducted approximately 11 months later. Factor analyses of 16 coping beh aviors revealed three factors: Positive Coping, Seeking Social Support , and Avoidance Coping. Respondents with a history of injected drug us e, as compared with gay or bisexual men, had higher scores for Avoidan ce Coping and lower scores for Positive Coping. Each coping scale was significantly related to depressive symptoms in cross-sectional analys es. In longitudinal analyses that controlled for prior depressive symp toms, Positive Coping was significantly related to decreases in sympto ms.