Perceived control over illness, realistic acceptance, and psychological adjustment in people with AIDS

This study investigated perceptions of control over illness and realistic a cceptance of illness and their association with psychological adjustment in people with AIDS. Research has suggested that beliefs in personal control over illness are positively associated with psychological adjustment in sev eral chronic illnesses, even at advanced stages of disease. However, stage theories of death and dying maintain that it is psychologically adaptive to realistically accept the possibility of death, especially at advanced stag es of progressive disease. This study investigated both sets of these belie fs in a sample of 42 people with late-stage AIDS. Findings indicated that p erceptions of control over illness course were associated with less depress ive symptoms and less anxiety about death, and that realistic acceptance-wh ile associated with more comprehensive planning for death-was associated wi th greater hopelessness. These findings are con si stent with research show ing th at people frequently maintain exaggerated beliefs in personal contro l, and that these beliefs are generally psychologically adaptive.