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Dissertation
Religious coping, depression, and quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3845
Abstract
Although religious coping is an essential part of dealing with the unique stressors related to HIV, surprisingly little research exists in this population. Particularly, the impact of negative aspects of religious coping in people with HIV has received little attention. The aims of this study were to examine the differential effects of positive and negative dimensions of religious coping on depression and quality of life, and to investigate the mediating role of benefit finding in the link between religious coping and psychological outcomes. One hundred and ninety eight individuals with an HIV or AIDS diagnosis in the eastern urban area of Philadelphia were included in the study. Positive and negative religious coping styles, depressive symptoms, quality of life, and benefit finding were measured in addition to demographic and clinical characteristics including ethnicity, education, religious affiliation, current mental treatment, CD4 cell count, and time since diagnosis. As hypothesized, negative religious coping was significantly associated with a high level of depressive symptoms and a lower level of quality of life after controlling for relevant demographic and clinical variables. Positive religious coping was significantly associated with positive domains of outcome measures such as positive affect, life satisfaction, and provider trust, although there was no significant association between positive religious coping and overall depressive symptoms or quality of life. A mediation analysis revealed that benefit finding fully mediates the relationship between positive religious coping and positive affect as well as life satisfaction. Furthermore, benefit finding significantly suppressed the positive association between positive religious coping and overall depressive symptoms, which is why positive religious coping was not significantly associated with overall depressive symptoms. Results suggest that positive and negative religious coping may have differential effects on psychological adjustment in people with HIV: Negative religious coping may contribute to adverse effects on general emotional distress and maladjustment, whereas positive religious coping may facilitate positive aspects of psychological adaptation. The finding that benefit finding mediates the effects of positive religious coping on increased positive psychological aspects, but suppressed emotional distress, implies that people with HIV may benefit from interventions that incorporate benefit finding in addition to spirituality.
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Details
- Title
- Religious coping, depression, and quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS
- Creators
- Minsun Lee - DU
- Contributors
- Arthur M. Nezu (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3845; 991014632531004721