Women living with HIV and AIDS face tremendous obstacles to wellness,
yet many find ways to use their experience of HIV as a vehicle for psy
chological and spiritual growth. A qualitative study was conducted to
better understand this process. Thirty-four women living with various
stages of HIV were interviewed. Five components were found to be impor
tant in their psychological and spiritual growth: reckoning with death
, life affirmation, creation of meaning, self-affirmation,, and redefi
ning relationships. Implications for social work practice and future r
esearch ave discussed.