THE EFFECT OF A SOCIAL SUPPORT BOOSTING INTERVENTION ON STRESS, COPING, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH HIV AIDS/

Background: Caring for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected child is challenging and affects the entire family system. Studies ha ve shown that social support can mitigate caregiver stress and enhance coping; however, social support may not always result in a positive o utcome for the recipient. Objectives: To measure caregiver stress, cop ing, and social support, and to test the effect of a social support bo osting intervention on levels of stress, coping, and social support am ong caregivers of children with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrom e (AIDS). Methods: An experimental design was used with monthly social support boosting interventions implemented. The stratified randomized sample included 70 primary caregivers of children with HIV/AIDS. The sample strata were seropositive caregivers (biological parents) and se ronegative caregivers (foster parents and extended family members). St udy measures included the Derogatis Stress Profile, Family Crisis Orie nted Personal Evaluation Scale, and the Tilden Interpersonal Relations hip Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and rep eated measure MANOVA. Results: Statistically significant differences b etween the experimental and control groups were found on changes in th e dependent variables over time when caregiver strata were included as a factor in the analysis; no statistically significant results were f ound when caregiver strata were combined. Univariate Ftests indicated that the level of social support for caregivers who were seronegative in the experimental group was significantly different from seronegativ e caregivers in the control group and seropositive caregivers in both groups. No significant treatment group differences were found for sero positive caregivers. Conclusions: Seronegative caregivers derived subs tantial benefit from the social support boosting intervention. Seroneg ative caregivers who acquire a child with HIV/AIDS are confronted with a complex stressful situation; the critical need to enhance their soc ial support is achievable through the intervention tested in this stud y.