The sun always comes out after it rains: understanding posttraumatic growth in HIV caregivers

Coping theory and research have long focused on negative outcomes. However, a growing body of literature has indicated that individuals may experience certain benefits from stressful life events. This research explored the positive and negative changes in caregivers' lives after caring for someone who had died of complications related to HIV/AIDS. Fifteen participants with either high or low scores of posttraumatic growth were interviewed. Data were analyzed from a grounded theory standpoint using open, axial, and selective coding. All of the individuals interviewed were undergoing or had undergone a process of finding meaning in their bereavement, in HIV disease in general, or both. Themes of distress, growth, humor, support, spirituality, fear of death, and the intertwining of support and spirituality emerged from the data. This research contributes to the growing areas of concentration on strengths and positive outcomes in coping. In addition, the results echo the re-emergence of interest in spirituality and social work.