Sefcik EF, Chou FU, Nokes KM, Reynolds N, Hamilton MJ, Nicholas P, Dole P, Corless I, Eller LS, Kemppainen J, Kirksey KM, Holzemer WL, Wantland D, Tsai YF, Coleman C; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. MoPeD3896.

University, Corpus Christi, United States

Background: Previous research shows that an individual's cognitive representation of an illness impacts that person's reactions and coping strategies. The purpose of this study is to examine demographic differences in illness perception of HIV+ persons. Method: Data were collected from an international sample of 1072 (31.8% females, and 67.4% males; mean age =42.3 (sd 8.8) with HIV/AIDS. African-American/Black comprised 42% (N=449), Asian/Pacific Islanders 12% (N=126), and White/Anglo 26% (n=273). Participants self reported on The Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) (Diefenbach & Leventhal, 1996). The IPQ assesses the five cognitive dimensions of illness perceptions: timeline-length of time for disease; identity-positive and negative perceptions of HIV; cause-what are the patient's perceptions of the cause of HIV/AIDS; controllability-perceptions of what and who controls the disease; consequences-what effects will the disease have on my life. Results: Significant differences emerged among different ethnic groups with respect to perceptions of timeline (F (4, 1007) = 9.50, p<.05), identity (F (4, 341) = 2.97, p<.05), controllability (F (4, 1010) = 3.73, p<.05), and consequences (F (4, 1019) = 7.02, p<.05). Similarly, these same differences emerged for individuals of different income: timeline (F (2, 1016) = 5.22, p<.05), identity (F (2, 345) = 6.52, p<.05), controllability (F (2, 1021) = 6.01, p<.05), and consequences (F (2, 1028) = 22.15, p<.05). Conclusions: Differences in illness perceptions in people from different ethnic backgrounds, and income may help to explain the differential impact of disease pattern that is evident from previous research. These findings might be instructive for future research, which targets how cognitive factors influence the course of HIV/AIDS progress and differential effectiveness of intervention efforts.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adaptation, Psychological
• African Americans
• Ethnic Groups
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Male
• Perception
• Questionnaires

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0035969

UI: 102280185

From Meeting Abstracts