Measuring psychological adjustment to HIV infection

Aims: A modified version of the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (The Ment al Adjustment to HIV Scale-MAHIVS) was used to evaluate patterns of psychol ogical adjustment in response to HIV infection. Methods: A sample of 164 HI V positive homosexual/bisexual men were recruited across three Australian c enters (79 asymptomatic (CDC II/III) and 85 symptomatic HIV infection (CDC IV)). Factor analysis of the MAHIVS was conducted and the predictive validi ty of the MAHIVS was investigated using the General Health Questionnaire, w hile The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to assess current and lifet ime psychiatric disorder. Other measures of adjustment/coping were used to investigate the construct validity of the MAHIVS (neuroticism, locus of con trol, defense style). Results: Factor analysis of the MAHIVS detected four factors: Hopelessness, Fighting Spirit/Self Efficacy, personal Control, and Minimization. Hopelessness and Fighting Spirit factors exhibited acceptabl e levels of internal consistency and validity, with significant correlation s detected with psychological symptoms and significant association with oth er measures of psychological adjustment and personality. Fighting Spirit em erged as a potential indicator of psychological resilience, whereas Hopeles sness was significantly associated with psychological symptoms and current major depression (but not past depression). Conclusions: The findings indic ate the validity of the MAHIVS and support the presence of common themes in the psychological adaptation to life-threatening illness chat can be detec ted across disease categories and groups.