PSYCHOSOCIAL VARIABLES THAT AFFECT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT OF IVDU PATIENTS WITH AIDS

The influences of coping strategies and of perceived social support fr om family and friends on the psychological adjustment of intravenous d rug users (IVDUs) with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were investigated. Twenty-seven male AIDS patients with a history of intrav enous drug use completed a demographic questionnaire, Trails-B, the Wa ys of Coping Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support from Family, Perc eived Social Support from Friends, and the Mental Health Inventory. Un expected results were obtained: The only coping strategy to correlate significantly with psychological adjustment was ''Seeking Social Suppo rt,'' and perceived social support from family correlated positively w ith psychological adjustment, but perceived social support from friend s did not. Interpretations and implications of these findings are pres ented.