Exploring the Relationships Between Perceived Health Self-Efficacy, Coping and Health-Promoting Behaviors Among Non-Substance Abusing Vs. Substance Abusing Patients With Hiv Disease

<p>The literature is replete with articles about coping styles and adjustment to various illnesses, but relatively few address the health-promoting behaviors of HIV-positive individuals. This study examines various factors related to a health-promoting lifestyle, their relationship to one another, and changes made by patients following diagnosis to improve health. Given that many HIV patients have alcohol/drug use histories, this research project also explores differences between substance-abusing HIV patients and non-substance abusers with respect to health-promoting behaviors. Pearson-product moment correlations indicated that greater health self-efficacy (i.e., Responsible Health Practices) (r=.753), a task-oriented coping style (r=.364), and a positive mental attitude (i.e., Fighting Spirit) (r=.263) were significant predictors of a health-promoting lifestyle. Substance abusers were as likely as non-substance abusers to report a health-promoting lifestyle. They also scored higher on an overall coping style measure (M=3.56 vs. 3.36). Further research to investigate health-promoting behaviors among HIV clients is warranted, as well as exploring under what circumstances avoidance-oriented coping may be as effective as task-oriented coping in adjustment to illness.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Campus Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Larry, Ramona S

Contributors dc:contributor

• Herman C. Salzburg

• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• coping among HIV patients
• health behaviors
• health self-efficacy
• health-promoting behaviors
• HIV disease

Statement dc:rights

• © 2009, Ramona S Larry

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/54

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarcommons.sc.edu:etd-1055