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Exploring the influence of stigma, level of trauma, and social support on the experience of posttraumatic growth in adults living with HIV

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Date Issued:
2014
Abstract/Description:
The present study investigated the influence of HIV-related stigma, social support, and impact of HIV diagnosis on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in adults living with HIV (N = 126). In addition, the study aimed to identify if social support moderated the relationship between stigma and PTG. Lastly, the study attempted to determine how impactful receiving an HIV diagnosis was to the sample. One hundred and twenty-six adults living with HIV within the state of Florida (41% response rate) participated in the research. Participants were recruited from a series of support groups and HIV focused agencies throughout the state, and responded through face to face survey administration. Each assessment packet consisted of the following assessments: (a) Posttraumatic Growth Inventory; [PTGI], Tedeschi (&) Calhoun, 1996, (b) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; [MSPSS], Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, (&) Farley, 1988, (c) Berger HIV Stigma Scale; Berger, Ferrans, (&) Lashley, 2001, (d) Impact of Event Scale [IES-R . Weiss (&) Marmar, 1996], (e) Reynolds Short Form Social Desirability Scale; Reynolds, 1982, and (f) a demographic questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether the independent variables were predictive of the outcome of PTG. Findings from the study revealed that each of the predictor variables (i.e., stigma, social support, and impact of diagnosis) contributed significantly (p(<).05) to the model, and accounted for 12% of the variance in PTGI scores. In examining the moderating presence of social support between stigma and PTG, there was no found significant interaction between stigma and social support. Significant differences in PTG scores were also identified amongst differing demographic groups, specifically participant ethnicity and religious orientation. Findings also revealed that 38.5% of the sample reported their HIV diagnosis as so impactful that they would likely qualify for a clinical diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, a detailed discussion of previous literature, study procedures and methodology, counselor implications, counselor educator implications, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Title: Exploring the influence of stigma, level of trauma, and social support on the experience of posttraumatic growth in adults living with HIV.
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Name(s): Zeligman, Melissa, Author
Hagedorn, William, Committee Chair
Barden, Sejal, Committee Member
Hundley, Gulnora, Committee Member
Xu, Lihua, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2014
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: The present study investigated the influence of HIV-related stigma, social support, and impact of HIV diagnosis on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in adults living with HIV (N = 126). In addition, the study aimed to identify if social support moderated the relationship between stigma and PTG. Lastly, the study attempted to determine how impactful receiving an HIV diagnosis was to the sample. One hundred and twenty-six adults living with HIV within the state of Florida (41% response rate) participated in the research. Participants were recruited from a series of support groups and HIV focused agencies throughout the state, and responded through face to face survey administration. Each assessment packet consisted of the following assessments: (a) Posttraumatic Growth Inventory; [PTGI], Tedeschi (&) Calhoun, 1996, (b) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support; [MSPSS], Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, (&) Farley, 1988, (c) Berger HIV Stigma Scale; Berger, Ferrans, (&) Lashley, 2001, (d) Impact of Event Scale [IES-R . Weiss (&) Marmar, 1996], (e) Reynolds Short Form Social Desirability Scale; Reynolds, 1982, and (f) a demographic questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether the independent variables were predictive of the outcome of PTG. Findings from the study revealed that each of the predictor variables (i.e., stigma, social support, and impact of diagnosis) contributed significantly (p(<).05) to the model, and accounted for 12% of the variance in PTGI scores. In examining the moderating presence of social support between stigma and PTG, there was no found significant interaction between stigma and social support. Significant differences in PTG scores were also identified amongst differing demographic groups, specifically participant ethnicity and religious orientation. Findings also revealed that 38.5% of the sample reported their HIV diagnosis as so impactful that they would likely qualify for a clinical diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, a detailed discussion of previous literature, study procedures and methodology, counselor implications, counselor educator implications, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Identifier: CFE0005285 (IID), ucf:50563 (fedora)
Note(s): 2014-05-01
Ph.D.
Education and Human Performance, Dean's Office EDUC
Doctoral
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): posttraumatic growth -- HIV -- mental health counseling -- HIV stigma -- counselor education
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005285
Restrictions on Access: public 2014-05-15
Host Institution: UCF

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