Abstract
Most research has focused on the major physical, psychological, and social consequences of AIDS among men. Comparatively little is known about the impact on the life circumstances and the domains of psychological, physiological, and social functioning as they pertain to quality of life of women infected with HIV. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among quality of life, coping skills, and social support in a sample of women in the United States infected with HIV/AIDS using quality of life as a measure of disease status. The data used for this study were drawn from a population of women living in Miami-Dade County. Participants were drawn primarily from hospitals and extended care facilities. The sample included 162 women older than 18 years who met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for case-defined AIDS composed of CD4 cell counts of less than 200/[mu]L and/or an opportunistic infection. Each participant had a CD4 cell count of less than 200/[mu]L and one or more opportunistic infections. Stepwise regression analysis was computed and revealed that a positive correlation existed between quality of life and coping skills, such that greater use of positive coping skills resulted in a higher quality of life and greater use of maladaptive coping skills resulted in a lower quality of life. However, there was a weak relationship between quality of life and satisfaction with social support.