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Coping and mood during aids-related caregiving and bereavement

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Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

This prospective study of a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) and HIV negative (HIV-) caregiving partners of men with AIDS examined the contextual effects of caregiving and bereavement on coping and the association between coping and positive and negative mood during the five months leading up to their partner's death and the five months following their partner's death. Participants used more problem-focused types of coping and more cognitive escape avoidance during caregiving than during bereavement. Six of the eight types of coping that were assessed were associated with negative mood, controlling for prior negative mood. These associations differed as a function of context (caregiving versus bereavemenO. Five types of coping were associated with positive mood, controlling for prior positive mood. HIV serostatus did not affect the relation between coping and mood.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, San Francisco

    Judith Tedlie Moskowitz Ph.D., M.P.H., Susan Folkman Ph.D., Linda Collette M.A. & Eric Vittinghoff Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Judith Tedlie Moskowitz Ph.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Susan Folkman Ph.D.
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  3. Linda Collette M.A.
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  4. Eric Vittinghoff Ph.D.
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Additional information

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by grants MH44045, MH49985, and T32 MH 19105 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

The authors are deeply indebted to the men who participated in this study.

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Tedlie Moskowitz, J., Folkman, S., Collette, L. et al. Coping and mood during aids-related caregiving and bereavement. Ann Behav Med 18, 49–57 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02903939

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