AIDS epidemic, emotional strain, coping and psychological distress in homosexual men

This study examined the process by which emotional strain imposed by the threat of AIDS may manifest itself as psychological distress, assessed by depressive symptomatology, in a sample of homosexual men. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which the perceived threat of AIDS is related to depression, and how coping resources, such as locus of control and social support, influence this process. Results highlight the role of social support and locus of control. These factors were found to be the strongest correlates of depression, and appear to exert a considerable influence on the associations between strain measures and depressive symptomatology.