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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
Meaning of illness and psychological adjustment to HIV/AIDS
Eugene W Farber1, Hamid Mirsalimi, Karen A Williams
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA. efarber@emory.edu
Abstract:
The authors explored the relationship between meaning of illness and psychological adjustment in persons with symptomatic HIV disease and AIDS. A group of 203 participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring meaning of illness, problem-focused coping, social support, psychological well-being, and depressed mood. Positive meaning was associated with a higher level of psychological well-being and a lower level of depressed mood. Further, meaning contributed significantly to predicting both psychological well-being and depressed mood over and above the contributions of problem-focused coping and social support. These findings have implications for HIV coping and adjustment models and for HIV-related psychotherapy.
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