Coping with the physical strains of HIV infection and AIDS

As part of a meta-analytical study, we selected, summarized and weighted 32 results of 32 primary studies focussing on how well persons with physical problems due to HIV infection and AIDS coped with their physical problems. To integrate the material we operationalized coping along a single dimensio n with the conceptual poles "approach" and "avoidance". Based on this we in vestigated the associations between coping and physical parameters (HIV ser ostatus, CD4 count, HIV-specific symptoms, stage of disease). The results i ndicate different associations for each of the physical parameters: (1) HIV serostatus did not correlate with coping, as long as there were no physica l symptoms diagnosted. (2) The prevalence of physical symptoms is associate d with avoidant coping. (3) No associations between CD4 count and coping co uld be found. The results suggest that laboratory parameters that cannot be perceived directly (HIV serostatus and CD4 count) do not significantly aff ect coping. Only an increase in directly perceived physical symptoms is cle arly associated with avoidant coping.