Despite the fact that fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom among HIV-infected persons, we know little about the predictors of fatigue in this population. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to examine the effects of early childhood trauma, recent stressful life events and depression on intensity and impairment of fatigue in HIV, over and above demographic factors and clinical...
Despite the fact that fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom among HIV-infected persons, we know little about the predictors of fatigue in this population. The goal of this cross-sectional study was to examine the effects of early childhood trauma, recent stressful life events and depression on intensity and impairment of fatigue in HIV, over and above demographic factors and clinical characteristics. One hundred and twenty eight HIV-infected men and women from one southern state in the US were studied. The median number of childhood traumatic events was two and participants tended to have at least one moderate recent stressful event. Multiple regression findings showed that patients with less income, more childhood trauma, more recent stressful events and more depressive symptoms had greater fatigue intensity and fatigue-related impairment in daily functioning. Recent stresses were a more powerful predictor of fatigue than childhood trauma. None of the disease-related measures (e.g. CD4, viral load, antiretroviral medication) predicted fatigue. Although stress and trauma have been related to fatigue in other populations, this is the first study to examine the effects of traumatic and recent stressful life events on fatigue in an HIV-infected sample.
Little research has focused on experiences of volunteers for people living with HIV/AIDS but other research on caregivers for this population illustrates the stress often experienced. This study identifies stressors experienced by volunteers for people with HIV/AIDS, and determines the types of social support needed to help volunteers cope with the stressors identified. Six volunteers were...
Little research has focused on experiences of volunteers for people living with HIV/AIDS but other research on caregivers for this population illustrates the stress often experienced. This study identifies stressors experienced by volunteers for people with HIV/AIDS, and determines the types of social support needed to help volunteers cope with the stressors identified. Six volunteers were interviewed at a small non-profit organization in Appalachia providing such services. Participants indicated that providing services for people with HIV/AIDS is a rewarding experience; however, stress and frustration played a large role in their experiences with the organization. Further, the results of this study indicate that emotional and informational social support may help volunteers cope with stressors associated with providing services for people with HIV/AIDS.
The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of perceived stress with selected physiological and psychological factors in an HIV-infected, predominantly African American population and to assess the multivariable effects on perceived stress. The variables that correlated significantly with perceived stress were entered into a backward stepwise regression model. The results indicate...
The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of perceived stress with selected physiological and psychological factors in an HIV-infected, predominantly African American population and to assess the multivariable effects on perceived stress. The variables that correlated significantly with perceived stress were entered into a backward stepwise regression model. The results indicate a very significant correlation between perceived stress and each of the following variables: state and trait anxiety, depression, HIV-related symptoms, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Further, the model suggests that psychological factors may contribute to perceived stress in this population more than psychological factors such as HIV-related symptomatology or stage of disease.
This article reports on a cross-sectional study of women who were caregivers of HIV/AIDS-affected spouses in Bumbu in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The sample consisted of 80 women randomly selected from a client visitation list of the home-based care program for AIDS patients. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied. A self-reported health status was calculated with five items from the questionnaire. The self-reported health status score of participants indicated poor health. The study highlights the great burden on caregivers in sub-Saharan Africa.
This article reports on a cross-sectional study of women who were caregivers of HIV/AIDS-affected spouses in Bumbu in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The sample consisted of 80 women randomly selected from a client visitation list of the home-based care program for AIDS patients. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied. A self-reported health status was calculated with five items from the questionnaire. The self-reported health status score of participants indicated poor health. The study highlights the great burden on caregivers in sub-Saharan Africa.
In rural Africa south of the Sahara most AIDS care is provided at home by relatives. Caring for sufferers is assumed to be a substantial burden, but little is known from the perspectives of care providers. Interviews, supplemented with survey data from a larger study in rural Malawi, were used to investigate this issue, focusing on the caregivers' diagnoses of their patients' illness, the type and duration of care, support from relatives and other community members, and the extent to which caregiving was experienced as an emotional, physical, and financial burden. Although none of the caregivers knew of a formal diagnosis and few explicitly named their relative's disease as AIDS, most appeared to suspect it. They described the illness using the typical symptoms of AIDS as locally understood and sometimes related the illness to their patient's sexual history. The care, typically given by close female relatives, was limited to that which would be given to anyone seriously ill. What was striking, however, was the caregivers' compassion and their attempts to provide the best care possible in their circumstances. For most, kin and community members provided social, moral, and physical support, and modest financial assistance. Caregiving was physically and emotionally demanding and confined the caregivers to home, but most did not consider caregiving a problem primarily because the patients were close relatives. The financial impact was typically modest because the caregivers had very little income and few possessions to sell.
In rural Africa south of the Sahara most AIDS care is provided at home by relatives. Caring for sufferers is assumed to be a substantial burden, but little is known from the perspectives of care providers. Interviews, supplemented with survey data from a larger study in rural Malawi, were used to investigate this issue, focusing on the caregivers' diagnoses of their patients' illness, the type and duration of care, support from relatives and other community members, and the extent to which caregiving was experienced as an emotional, physical, and financial burden. Although none of the caregivers knew of a formal diagnosis and few explicitly named their relative's disease as AIDS, most appeared to suspect it. They described the illness using the typical symptoms of AIDS as locally understood and sometimes related the illness to their patient's sexual history. The care, typically given by close female relatives, was limited to that which would be given to anyone seriously ill. What was striking, however, was the caregivers' compassion and their attempts to provide the best care possible in their circumstances. For most, kin and community members provided social, moral, and physical support, and modest financial assistance. Caregiving was physically and emotionally demanding and confined the caregivers to home, but most did not consider caregiving a problem primarily because the patients were close relatives. The financial impact was typically modest because the caregivers had very little income and few possessions to sell.
Families in Society, 84(4), October 2003, pp.523-529.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
War and disaster often strike impoverished and stressed communities. The Lower East Side of New York City (LES) became one of those communities on September 11, 2001, when youth and parents experienced the destruction of the nearby World Trade Center. HIV-affected and HIV-infected parents discussed their own and their families' reactions. LES parents felt they had dealt with the initial effects
War and disaster often strike impoverished and stressed communities. The Lower East Side of New York City (LES) became one of those communities on September 11, 2001, when youth and parents experienced the destruction of the nearby World Trade Center. HIV-affected and HIV-infected parents discussed their own and their families' reactions. LES parents felt they had dealt with the initial effects of the World Trade Center disaster well, but were concerned about their ability to deal with continued threat. This challenge was made more difficult as they saw the number and quality of safe places from which to view and interpret events diminish, and their opportunities to establish reserves that would help them cope erode. HIV posed additional difficulties post-disaster. Implications are drawn for emergency preparedness planning for urban families.
Looks at the type of people volunteering to be buddies to people living with AIDS, their role, stresses, support needs and the rewards they gain from their work.
Looks at the type of people volunteering to be buddies to people living with AIDS, their role, stresses, support needs and the rewards they gain from their work.
There is a need for a more fundamental understanding of the psychological processes which a sudden catastrophic change in normal life provokes in people.
There is a need for a more fundamental understanding of the psychological processes which a sudden catastrophic change in normal life provokes in people.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, post traumatic stress disorder, stress, death;
Social Work in Health Care, 18(2), 1993, pp.91-108.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Addresses the main sources of occupational stress likely to be experienced by social workers employed in the field of AIDS/HIV; and describes a multi-dimensional model for preventing burnout in this group of professional caregivers.
Addresses the main sources of occupational stress likely to be experienced by social workers employed in the field of AIDS/HIV; and describes a multi-dimensional model for preventing burnout in this group of professional caregivers.
Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 37(5), September 1992, pp.432-439.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Reviews the literature on burnout and reports on a study of hospital social workers aimed at finding which aspects of work and worker characteristics were factors predictive burnout.
Reviews the literature on burnout and reports on a study of hospital social workers aimed at finding which aspects of work and worker characteristics were factors predictive burnout.