Sovremennye Issledovaniâ Socialʹnyh Problem (Feb 2016)
SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HIV-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS
Abstract
By 2020 the prevalence of HIV in the Russian Federation may increase by 250%, unless we provide appropriate treatment to as many HIV-infected people as possible (V.I. Skvortsova, 2015). Previous research in this field shows that the psychotraumatic character of the disease lowers the psychological resource of HIV-infected individuals. In most cases, they are not psychologically prepared for the negative life events, unable to find an optimal behavioral pattern when their life stereotypes are being destroyed. In fact, being HIV-infected is an example of an acute event (V.V. Pokrovsky, 1993). The ability to overcome the life crisis and effectiveness of using adaptation and compensatory mechanisms to fight the disease depend on the level of adaptation to the fact of being infected and resistance to stress. The aim of the current study was to determine social and psychological features of HIV-infected individuals and assess their influence on the stress resistance and adaptation abilities of HIV+ patients. We observed men and women aged 21-30 who had been HIV+ for 1-5 years. Investigation methods included the following diagnostic tools: The Cattel Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (Form C), The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (conducted by Spielberger, adapted for use in Russia by Hanin), The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (The Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory), The Social and Psychological Adaptation Questionnaire (by C. Rogers and R. Diamond), methods of mathematical statistics. As a result of the study, we have developed comparative factor profiles of individual psychological features of HIV-infected individuals that show their dependence on the social environment and form certain behavioral patterns. We have revealed significant difference in state and trait anxiety between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected individuals. Self-blame, inadequate self-esteem and level of aspiration indicate low cognitive assessment of the condition by the patients that leads to the development of emotional distress. HIV+ individuals demonstrate low stress resistance and prevalence of desadaptation over adaptive processes. Our study has shown that decreased social and psychological adaptation of HIV+ individuals is affected by the following factors: psycho-emotional state, increased state and trait anxiety, approach to life, low self-control, lack of self-confidence. The results can be used to determine the methods of psycho-correctional counseling and help to HIV+ patients in the area of overcoming the life crisis.
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