Coping strategies of HIV-positive and HIV-negative female injection drug users: A longitudinal study

This study longitudinally examined the psychosocial correlates of coping st rategies among 165 HIV positive and 179 I-W negative female injection drug users (IDUs). Participants were interviewed twice using a structured questi onnaire, with a 6-month interval between interviews. The questionnaire incl uded psychosocial measures as well as measures of general coping and specif ic HN-related coping. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analyses . The findings indicated that favorable factors in the psychosocial domains at Time I were significantly associated with an increased likelihood at Ti me 2 of the use of general coping and specific adaptive coping strategies, such as problem solving and seeking social support, and with a decreased li kelihood at Time 2 of the use of maladaptive coping strategies, such as agg ression and the use of illicit drugs. These findings highlight particular a reas of psychosocial functioning that can be targeted by intervention progr ams to promote adaptive coping and minimize maladaptive coping among HIV po sitive and HIV negative female IDUs.