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Abstract
Individuals who are HIV-positive may experience various types of stressors. Research shows that negative appraisals and avoidance coping in response to stress are associated with less adaptive functioning. As an alternative, acceptance may be related to better well-being. Several investigators have shown that acceptance is associated with healthier outcomes for various medical populations. However, acceptance has not been empirically examined within HIV-positive individuals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationships among acceptance, avoidance coping, and multiple aspects of psychological functioning in military veterans receiving HIV-related care at a veterans affairs (VA) healthcare system. Seventy-six military veterans who were HIV-positive and receiving care at a local VA healthcare system completed a battery of questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. Results indicated that acceptance was related to better mental health variables. To continue this line of research, future investigations may want to replicate these findings with other HIV-populations, examine potential mechanisms that drive the relationships between acceptance and better mental health functioning, and study the impact of acceptance-based interventions.
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Notes
1. In the present study, a total score for avoidance was calculated for each participant by summing up the four avoidance coping subscales: denial, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement, and alcohol-drug disengagement.