Dysfunctional attitudes, coping, and depression among HIV-seropositive menwho have sex with men

Several studies have documented elevated levels of psychological distress a mong NN-seropositive (HIV+) symptomatic men who have sex with men (MSM). Ho wever, very little is known about the role of dysfunctional attitudes and c oping strategies in maintaining and ameliorating distress levels in ways th at can inform those developing psychosocial interventions for HIV+ persons. This study evaluated relations between dysfunctional attitudes and depress ion and examined the role of coping as a mediator of this relationship amon g 115 HIV+ symptomatic MSM. Higher Dysfunctional Attitude Scale scores were associated with move reported depressive symptoms. The use of adaptive cop ing strategies such as active coping was associated with lower depression, whereas rise of maladaptive strategies such as denial was related to higher levels of depression. Both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies medi ated the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and depression. Findi ngs suggest that interventions aiming at reducing psychological distress in this population using cognitive restructuring and related techniques may a chieve their effects by enhancing adaptive coping strategies on the one han d and reducing maladaptive strategies on the other.