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Published on: October 6, 2016
Hardiness, Successful Aging, and HIV: Implications for Social Work
Journal of Gerontological Social Work
|December 2, 2008
Summary
Successful aging with HIV is possible. This review explores how psychological hardiness, a key trait for overcoming adversity, can help individuals living with HIV age successfully despite chronic illness.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Psychology
Background:
- * Increasing life expectancy for individuals with HIV/AIDS leads to a growing population of older adults living with the disease.
- * Limited understanding exists regarding the challenges and strengths associated with aging with HIV.
- * Psychological hardiness, a concept from gerontology, explains successful aging despite adversity and chronic illness.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review the concept of hardiness in the context of aging and HIV.
- * To emphasize the importance of hardiness in facilitating successful aging with HIV.
- * To address conceptual and methodological issues in studying hardiness and successful aging.
Main Methods:
- * Literature review of gerontological and HIV/AIDS research.
- * Conceptual analysis of hardiness and successful aging.
- * Discussion of potential interventions and clinical implications.
Main Results:
- * Hardiness is a crucial factor for successful aging among individuals living with HIV.
- * Existing research on hardiness in aging with HIV is limited.
- * Conceptual and methodological challenges exist in studying this population.
Conclusions:
- * Hardiness can guide clinicians, researchers, and individuals living with HIV toward successful aging.
- * Augmenting hardiness qualities may improve outcomes for people aging with HIV.
- * Social work interventions can play a role in enhancing hardiness.
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