Differences in Coping Strategies Among Older Persons Living with HIV Disease and AIDS
type: CreativeWork
description: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and aging were once mutually exclusive conditions. Traditionally HIV has been seen as a disease that occurs among younger people. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996 and the efficacy of these medications, the connection between aging and HIV has become more direct. While the number of persons diagnosed with HIV or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) over the age of 65 years has grown from 1,008 to 10,002 in the past ten years (Justice et al., 2001), it is estimated that over 112,447 persons over the age of 50 are living with HIV in the United States (Emlet, 2006; Emlet & Poindexter, 2004). Throughout the world, women represent the largest percentage of newly infected HIV individuals (Gray & Berger, 2007). Several studies exist that identify coping strategies and symptom management of men living with HIV and AIDS. However, more research is needed to understand the role specific coping strategies play in the lives of HIV-positive men and women over the age of 55 years. Although limited, the available research on those older men and women living with HIV makes it clear that successful aging is possible (Vance, Coon, & Linsk, 2007). Older adults living with HIV disease face a number of factors likely to complicate their coping and adjustment. Older individuals often have few systems of community support, lack older siblings or parents to care for them, and frequently confront the stigma of ageism while living with a variety of comorbid conditions that often accompany old age (Heckman et al., 2001). Much of the research on coping with HIV and AIDS has been guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) cognitive model of stress and coping (Heckman et al., 2001) and has been focused on younger males living with these diseases. A review of the literature revealed that middle-aged and older persons living with HIV and AIDS have unique needs. Participant recruitment into this comparative, cross-sectional project…
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and aging were once mutually exclusive conditions. Traditionally HIV has been seen as a disease that occurs among younger people. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996 and the efficacy of these medications, the connection between aging and HIV has become more direct. While the number of persons diagnosed with HIV or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) over the age of 65 years has grown from 1,008 to 10,002 in the past ten years (Justice et al., 2001), it is estimated that over 112,447 persons over the age of 50 are living with HIV in the United States (Emlet, 2006; Emlet & Poindexter, 2004). Throughout the world, women represent the largest percentage of newly infected HIV individuals (Gray & Berger, 2007). Several studies exist that identify coping strategies and symptom management of men living with HIV and AIDS. However, more research is needed to understand the role specific coping strategies play in the lives of HIV-positive men and women over the age of 55 years. Although limited, the available research on those older men and women living with HIV makes it clear that successful aging is possible (Vance, Coon, & Linsk, 2007). Older adults living with HIV disease face a number of factors likely to complicate their coping and adjustment. Older individuals often have few systems of community support, lack older siblings or parents to care for them, and frequently confront the stigma of ageism while living with a variety of comorbid conditions that often accompany old age (Heckman et al., 2001). Much of the research on coping with HIV and AIDS has been guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) cognitive model of stress and coping (Heckman et al., 2001) and has been focused on younger males living with these diseases. A review of the literature revealed that middle-aged and older persons living with HIV and AIDS have unique needs. Participant recruitment into this comparative, cross-sectional project…
author: Embry, Toby
keywords: Nursing
date published: 2009-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:06:14Z
provider: Dominican University of California
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Dominican University of California