THE IMPACT OF ILLNESS DISCLOSURE AND CUSTODY PLANS ON ADOLESCENTS WHOSE PARENTS LIVE WITH AIDS

Objectives: To describe the disclosure and custody planning of parents living with AIDS and the impact of these on their adolescents' adjust ment. Methods: An examination of the association of multiple behaviour problems in children and the illness disclosure and custody plans oi their parents living with AIDS. Results: Both mothers (87%) and father s were significantly more likely to disclose their HIV serostatus to a dolescents (73%), compared with younger children (23%); only 44% discl osed their illness to all their children; 11% disclosed to none. Most parents (80%) living with AIDS had discussed their custody plans. Howe ver, only 30% initiated legal plans, typically for younger children. A dolescents who were informed of their parents' serostatus engaged in m ore sexual risk acts, smoked more cigarettes, and reported more severe substance use and greater emotional distress than uninformed adolesce nts. Legal custody arrangements were not associated with adolescent ad justment at recruitment or follow-up. Conclusions: A longitudinal anal ysis of the impact on adolescents of the behaviours of parents living with AIDS is needed.