Examining the Impact of Parental Disclosure of HIV on Children: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined the impact of a mother's decision to disclose her HIV positive serostatus to her children. Results indicated that disclosure to a child improves the parent–child relationship (average r = +.171). There was a corresponding increase in internalized negative emotions (average r = +.108) and negative externalized behaviors (average r = +.088). The data suggested little correlation with scholastic achievement (average r = +.008). Petronio's Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory provided a framework for understanding these contradictory findings, suggesting that the construction and management of boundaries are critical to mitigating the outcomes associated with disclosure processes.

Keywords:

• Children
• Communication Privacy Management
• HIV Parental Disclosure
• Meta-Analysis

Acknowledgments

The first author is especially thankful and appreciative for her coauthors' assistance with revisions of the manuscript. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the Central States Communication Association.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kelly E. Tenzek

Kelly E. Tenzek (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is a full-time instructor at Bloomsburg University.

Anna R. Herrman

Anna R. Herrman (MA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is a doctoral dissertator at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Amy R. May

Amy R. May (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Annapolis, MD.

Benjamin Feiner

Benjamin Feiner (BA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is a medical student at Medical College of Wisconsin.

Mike Allen

Mike Allen (PhD, Michigan State) is Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.