Dealing with a life-threatening diagnosis: the experience of people with the human immunodeficiency virus

Different individuals demonstrate a variety of responses on learning that they have tested positive to the presence of antibodies to HIV. These responses range from rapid acceptance by some people, to a strong and persistent negative reaction in others. This paper reports a preliminary attempt to examine the possible nature and origin of coping responses. Twenty-three volunteer participants responding to newspaper advertisements were asked to complete two questionnaires designed for this study--one concerning their psychological state and one enquiring about their physical health. Following this a sample of high scores (n = 5) and a sample of low scorers (n = 5) were interviewed in depth. The results indicate that coping strategies may be influenced by: the time since diagnosis; the perceived physical health of the individual; and by social support. The construction of the psychological questionnaire is described and the results from this and the interviews are discussed with suggestions for further research.