Critical review of empirical research dealing with the relationship between optimistic tendencies and HIV related behaviors

Abstract

Many variables related to risk of HIV infection, progression of the disease andadherence to antiretroviral drug therapy have been studied from different approaches.This review incorporates a group of studies including optimism as avariable related to Positive Psychology and HIV/AIDS, to explain how it interactswith: sexual risk behaviors, disease progression and adherence to antiretroviral(ARV) therapy. Refereed academic journals published from 1994 to 2009, wereaccessed from the EBSCO database. Subject Terms were related both to HIVand optimism. Articles were arranged into three classifications: infection, diseaseprogression and ARV therapy adherence. The review included 32 articles carriedout mainly in the USA. Most articles showed significant relationships betweenoptimism and risk behaviors, disease progression and ARV adherence. This studyconcluded that more research in evaluation of optimism, and optimism relatedinterventions should be made to disentangle the complex relationship it has withsex risk behaviors, disease progression and adherence to ARV Therapy. Moderateoptimism appears to be a predictor to health related sexual behaviors