The relationship between health and human services and the personal goal-directed activities of persons living with AIDS

This study evaluates the relationship between the social climate from diffe rent services and the personal goal-directed activities of 224 individuals with AIDS. The study's results supported the main hypothesis that "recipien t" and "participatory" service involvement uniquely influence personal goal -directed activities, even after considering individuals with AIDS' physica l Symptoms, psychological distress, income, and recrrcitment site. Income a nd involvement with participatory services were both positively related to the amount of personal goal-directed activity. Longitudinal analyses sugges t that personal initiative contributes to the subsequent amount of personal goal-directed activities a person pursues. These results suggest further e xamination of factors contributing to the selection of different service ty pes and of the processes underlying the relationship between participatory services and positive outcomes for clients with AIDS.