Prayer as Interpersonal Coping in the Lives of Mothers with HIV

The spirituality of 22 mothers diagnosed with HIV was explored through face-to-face interviews and revealed that 95% of the mothers pray. Active prayers (e.g., talking to God by adoring, thanking, confessing, and supplicating) were more frequently reported than receptive prayers (e.g., quietly listening to God, being open, surrendering). Supplicatory or petitionary prayers for help and health were the most frequent type of prayer, and adoration was the least frequent. The majority of mothers in the sample perceived prayer as a positive coping mechanism associated with outcomes such as: support, positive attitude/affect, and peace. Overall, results supported expanding the boundary conditions of the interpersonal coping component of the Social Interaction Model (Derlega & Barbee, 1998) to include the spiritual dimension of prayer

Willingness to Engage in Collective Action After the Killing of an Unarmed Black Man: Differential Pathways for Black and White Individuals

This cross-sectional survey study examined the underlying psychosocial constructs of Black (n = 163) and White (n = 246) university students\u27 willingness to endorse racially motivated collective action. Consistent with the defensive motivation system model, we expected the police shooting of an unarmed Black American to activate concerns about personal safety, thereby eliciting negative affect, lack of forgiveness of the perpetrator, and motivation to engage in collective action. This path model was expected for both Black and White participants, with stronger associations among Black participants. In the full model, Black participants identified more with the victim and indicated greater personal threat, which led to (1) more negative affect and greater endorsement of collective action and (2) greater avoidance of the shooter and greater endorsement of collective action. In the Black participants model, collective action was explained by identifying with the victim and feeling personally threatened. In the White participants model, collective action was explained by three pathways stemming from identifying with the victim and personal threat, including negative affect, seeking avoidance, and seeking revenge. The results indicate different mechanisms to explain Black and White individuals\u27 motivation to endorse collective action to prevent police-involved shootings of unarmed Black Americans

How Patients\u27 Self-Disclosure about Sickle Cell Pain Episodes to Significant Others Relates to Living with Sickle Cell Disease

Objectives: This cross-sectional study examines to whom and how fully sickle cell disease (SCD) patients talk to others about sickle cell pain, how helpful it is to talk with others about these pain episodes, and the association between talking to others about sickle cell pain episodes and patients\u27 psychological adjustment and coping strategies in managing the disease. Methods: A convenience sample of 73 African American patients with SCD (30 men and 43 women), were recruited from two SCD clinics at the time of routine medical visits. Most participants had been diagnosed with hemoglobin SS, and they reported an average number of 8.61 pain episodes in the previous 12 months. Participants were asked to whom, how fully, and how helpful it was to talk to significant others about SCD pain episodes experienced in the last 12 months. Patients also completed measures of their psychological adjustment as well as how they would manage a future sickle cell pain episode. Self-report ratings were made on Likert-type scales. Results: Based on paired samples t-tests, participants talked significantly more fully about their thoughts and feelings concerning pain episodes to God and to their primary medical providers than to either their parents, siblings, or an intimate partner/close friend. Bivariate correlations indicated that amount and helpfulness of talking about pain episodes to God and to parents were significantly associated with better psychological adjustment on selected measures. Also, bivariate correlations indicated that helpfulness in talking with siblings, intimate partner/close friend, and primary medical providers was positively related with willingness to go to a physician in the event of a future pain episode. Conclusions: The results document to whom and how helpful it is to talk with others about SCD pain episodes and how SCD disclosure is related to strategies for managing this disease

Personal adjustment : the psychology of everyday life

xx, 524 p. : ill.; 21 c

Understanding the Therapeutic Relationship as a Personal Relationship

Theories of personal relationships are reviews to help us understand the therapeutic relationship as a personal relationship: Chambliss\u27s (1965) theory of friendship which focuses on impression management; Kelley & Thibaut\u27s (1978) theory of interdependence and Rusbult\u27s (1980a) investment model of relationship satisfaction and commitment which focus on social exchange processes; and Levinger\u27s (Levinger & Snoek, 1972) incremental exchange theory which focuses on developmental changes in a relationship. Taking these theories into consideration enables us to view psychotherapy as a personal relationship and suggests avenues for research and hypothesis testing. Conversely, the unique characteristics of therapy as a personal but asymmetric relationship also suggest implications for the development of concepts and research on other types of personal relationships

HIV & Social Interaction

Along with the distress associated with the diagnosis of a life-threatening disease, individuals with HIV also face huge social challenges based on reactions to their disease by other individuals and society. While there are numerous books covering research on risk of HIV infection and attitudes about the disease, limited empirical research on the social interaction process in coping with HIV exists. Carefully edited, HIV and Social Interaction explores the seropositive personÆs relationships with family, friends, intimate partners, and other members of his or her social network. The contributors present original theoretical models and research, derived from psychology and communication. Written with clarity, HIV and Social Interaction indicates how being HIV positive influences an individualÆs social interactions as well as interpersonal relationships. Chapters include the following topics: + The stigmatization of HIV and AIDS + Weighing the benefits and risks of self-disclosure about the HIV diagnosis + Accessing, finding, and maintaining quality social support + The value of group residence facilities for persons with AIDS + The effects of HIV on intimate relationships + The impact on volunteers who provide assistance to persons with AIDS In addition, the chapter authors discuss implications of their work for interventions and assisting HIV positive individuals, members of their social networks, health providers, and social services providers. A deeper understanding of these and related issues is vital for the comprehensive and empathetic delivery of services by healthcare professionals. HIV and Social Interaction is equally important for social scientists, students, as well as persons who are HIV-positive and anyone within their social network. [Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_books/1007/thumbnail.jp

Privacy and Disclosure of Hiv in interpersonal Relationships: A Sourcebook for Researchers and Practitioners

As the HIV epidemic enters its third decade, it remains one of the most pressing health issues of our time. Many aspects of the disease remain under-researched and inadequate attention has been given to the implications for the relationships and daily lives of those affected by HIV. Disclosing an HIV diagnosis remains a decision process fraught with difficulty and despite encouraging medical advances, an HIV diagnosis creates significant anxiety and distress about one\u27s health, self-identity, and close relationships. This book provides an overarching view of existing research on privacy and disclosure while bringing together two significant areas: self-disclosure as a communication process and the social/relational consequences of HIV/AIDS. The unifying framework is communication privacy management and the focus of this volume is on private voluntary relational disclosure as opposed to forced or public disclosure. Utilizing numerous interviews with HIV patients and their families, the authors examine disclosure in a variety of social contexts, including relationships with intimate partners, families, friends, health workers, and coworkers. Of note are the examinations of predictors of willingness to disclose HIV infection, the message features of disclosure, and the consequences of both disclosure and non-disclosure. [Amazon.com]https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_books/1006/thumbnail.jp