IMPROVING COPING SKILLS IN OLDER PERSONS WITH HIV/AIDS

很多研究都调查了心理压力，疾病- 相关应对策略和心理健康干预方法 艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者。 然而，这些研究集中在 几乎完全针对感染艾滋病毒的年轻人。 这 有限的关注限制了我们对生活问题的理解， 老年艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者的心理健康需求。 数量 老年人中艾滋病病例的增加，随着艾滋病成为一种 慢性但更易控制的疾病，研究人员必须 了解感染艾滋病毒的老年人的需求， 能够改善其应对和调整努力的战略， 整体生活质量。 拟议的为期一年的试点研究将描述日常压力源， 应对策略，应对援助资源的可用性，以及 50岁以上艾滋病毒感染者的生活质量。 在初期，焦点小组研究活动将与 36名50岁或以上的艾滋病毒感染成年人的不同样本， 收集数据，评估关键的心理问题和事件， 加重他们的应对能力，降低生活质量。 此后，80 50岁或以上的艾滋病毒感染者将完成一项自我检查， 管理的、保密的调查措施， 评估（1）人口特征，（2） 应对，（3）与健康相关的生活质量，（4）护理障碍， 服务提供，（5）社会心理困扰水平，（6）感知 社会支持，（7）对艾滋病毒相关问题的看法，（8） 物质使用;（9）高危性行为。 这些定性和 定量数据将产生重要的信息， 应对、社会支持和健康相关生活质量领域 感染艾滋病病毒的老年人。 这项研究将以一个试点项目结束。 对24名成年人进行的小规模应对有效性干预试验 50岁或以上的艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者。拟定的研究将 引导大规模的概念化和协议的形成 向国家老龄问题研究所提交的干预建议 旨在进行一项对照、随机临床试验， 艾滋病毒感染者的生活干预 与waitlist比较条件的关系。

Many studies have examined levels of psychological distress, illness- related coping strategies, and mental health intervention approaches for persons living with HIV/AIDS. However, these studies have focused almost exclusively on younger persons living with HIV disease. This restricted focus has limited our understanding of the life problems and mental health needs of older adults living with HIV/AIDS. As the number of AIDS cases among older persons increases, and as AIDS becomes a chronic but more manageable disease, it is important for researchers to understand the needs of HIV-infected older adults and to develop strategies that can improve their coping and adjustment efforts and overall quality of life. The proposed one-year pilot study will characterize the daily stressors, coping strategies, availability of coping assistance resources, and quality of life among HIV-infected persons 50 years of age or older. Initially, focus group research activities will be undertaken with a diverse sample of 36 HIV-infected adults 50 years of age or older to elicit data assessing critical psychosocial issues and events that may tax their coping abilities and reduce life quality. Following this, 80 HIV-infected persons 50 years of age or older will complete a self- administered, confidential survey measure composed of quantitative measures that assess (1) demographic characteristics, (2) ways of coping, (3) health-related quality of life, (4) barriers to care and service provision, (5) levels of psychosocial distress, (6) perceptions of social support, (7) perceptions of HIV-related problems, (8) substance use, and (9) high-risk sexual behavior. These qualitative and quantitative data will yield important information on the understudied domains of coping, social support, and health-related quality of life among HIV-infected older adults. The study will conclude with a pilot test of a small-scale, coping effectiveness intervention with 24 adults 50 years of age or older living with HIV/AIDS. The proposed study will guide the conceptualization and protocol formation of a large-scale intervention proposal to be submitted to the National Institute on Aging intended to conduct a controlled, randomized clinical trial of a quality of life intervention for older adults living with HIV infection in relation to waitlist comparison condition.