HIV infection and depressive symptoms: An investigation of African American single mothers

Abstract

Risk for depressive symptoms among HIV-infected African American single mothers ( n = 96), relative to demographically matched non-infected single mothers ( n = 120), was examined, using both self-report and clinician-rated scales of depression. Assessment of depressive symptoms occurred at two points separated by one year. Findings revealed that HIV-infected mothers were at greater risk for depressive symptoms at both assessments, regardless of method of assessment. Moreover, HIV-infected mothers remained at greater risk when analyses were limited to cognitive and affective symptoms of depression, decreasing the likelihood that the difference between the two groups was due to greater endorsement of somatic symptoms of depression by the HIV-infected group.