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Psychological distress, substance use, and adjustment among parents living with HIV. J Am Board Fam Pract 2005;18(5):362-73

Date

09/09/2005

Pubmed ID

16148246

Pubmed Central ID

PMC1395483

DOI

10.3122/jabfm.18.5.362

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-27944484514 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Being a parent, especially a custodial parent, living with HIV was anticipated to increase psychological distress and challenges to self-care.

METHODS: Mental health symptoms, substance use, and health care utilization were assessed among 3818 HIV-infected adults, including custodial parents, noncustodial parents, and nonparents, in 4 AIDS epicenters.

RESULTS: Custodial parents demonstrated significantly poorer medication adherence and attendance at medical appointments but were similar to nonparents and noncustodial parents in mental health symptoms and treatment utilization for mental health and substance use problems. Noncustodial parents demonstrated the highest levels of recent substance use and substance abuse treatment. Other markers of risk, such as African American ethnicity, lack of current employment income, and injection drug use moderated many of the apparent psychosocial disadvantages exhibited by parents.

CONCLUSIONS: Interventions specific to the psychosocial stressors facing families living with HIV are needed.

Author List

Goldstein RB, Johnson MO, Rotheram-Borus MJ, Kirshenbaum SB, Pinto RM, Kittel L, Pequegnat W, Mickalian JD, Weinhardt LS, Kelly JA, Lightfoot M, National Institute Mental Health Healthy Living Project Team

Authors

Jeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Lance S. Weinhardt MS,PhD Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Community and Behavioral Health Promotion in the Joseph. J. Zilber School of Public Health department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adaptation, Psychological
Comorbidity
HIV Infections
Humans
Multivariate Analysis
Parents
Stress, Psychological
Substance-Related Disorders