THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COPING STRATEGIES USED BY HIV-SEROPOSITIVE WOMEN

The effectiveness of active and passive coping strategies was examined in a sample of 264 women infected with HIV. Coping was measured concu rrent with, and 3 months prior to, measurement of physical symptoms an d emotional distress. Two causal models were tested: one for active co ping and one for passive coping. Active coping strategies examined inc luded seeking social support, managing the illness, and spiritual acti vities. Avoidance was used as an indicator of passive coping. In both models, physical symptoms and emotional distress were positively and s ignificantly related. The findings indicated that, whereas current avo idance coping was not related to emotional distress, current active co ping was positively related to physical symptoms and negatively relate d to emotional distress. The immediate effects of active coping appear ed to serve a protective function in that emotional distress decreased with greater use of active coping, even as physical symptoms increase d. Avoidance coping had no such protective effect for emotional distre ss. In addition, the use of avoidance coping decreased and active copi ng increased as physical symptoms increased, suggesting that active co ping is more likely to be used with increasing levels of physical symp toms. The findings suggest that interventions that support attempts to use active coping strategies as physical symptoms increase may be eff ective in promoting positive adaptation to HIV disease. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.