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Coping, clinical and sociodemographic aspects of people living with HIV/Aids

The study aimed at describing coping strategies of people living with HIV/AIDS and identifying associations between modalities of coping and sociodemographic variables such as sex, schooling and marital status, as well as clinical ones (symptomatic versus asymptomatic conditions). A convenience sample was composed with 241 HIV+ people, 161 (66,8%) were men between the ages of 20 and 64 (M=37,4), 169 (70,1%) symptomatic. The instruments used included structured questionnaires and a Brazilian version of a scale for measure strategies of coping, with assisted application and fulfilling of scale without the presence of researchers. Results showed variability in the coping strategies used, with predomination of problem-focused coping. Amongst women and less educated individuals there was a prevalence of emotion-focused coping and search for religious practices. The results provide subsidy for HIV-positive patients to draw sustenance from psychological support. Limitations of conceptualization and evaluation of coping are discussed and must be taken into consideration for future reference in further research

coping and sociodemographic aspects; HIV/AIDS; health psychology


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E-mail: revpsi@uem.br