Correlates of psychological distress among mothers of children and adolescents with hemophilia and HIV infection.

Evaluated the correlates of mood state (psychological distress) in a multisite study of two groups: (a) mothers of HIV-positive children and adolescents with hemophilia (n = 91), and (b) mothers of HIV-negative children and adolescents with hemophilia (n = 92). Socioeconomic status, quality of family relationship support, and frequency of negative life events accounted for significant variance in Total Mood Disturbance (psychological distress) as measured by the Profile of Mood States in the overall sample. Severity of hemophilia was unrelated to distress. A significant interaction between HIV status and frequency of stressful life events indicated that this variable related more strongly to distress among mothers of HIV-infected children and adolescents with hemophilia than among mothers of HIV-negative children with hemophilia. Findings suggest that the presence of HIV infection in their children and adolescents may heighten the impact of negative life events on the psychological distress experienced by these mothers.

Impact of the repressive personality style on the measurement of psychological distress in children and adolescents with chronic illness: an example from hemophilia.

Described the impact of the repressive personality style on the measurement of psychological distress among children and adolescents with hemophilia. Two groups were compared on parent and self-report measures of anxiety and depression: a nondefensive group (n = 34) with low distress; and a highly defensive group (n = 26) who were identified as having a repressive personality style and who also reported low distress. Consistent with hypotheses, highly defensive children reported comparable levels of anxiety and lower levels of depression than nondefensive children. On the other hand, mothers of highly defensive children and adolescents described them as more distressed than mothers of nondefensive (self-assured) children. Findings underscore the importance of including data from other informants, (e.g., parents, teachers, or peers) to avoid misleading findings based on self-reports of anxiety and depression obtained from highly defensive children.

Psychological response to HIV positivity in hemophilia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the psychological and family adaptation of children and adolescents with hemophilia who were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with an HIV-negative group of comparable age, demographic characteristics, and disease severity in a multi-site study. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, controlled study. SETTING: Thirty-three hemophilia treatment centers throughout the United States. SAMPLE: Ninety-one children and adolescents with hemophilia who were seropositive for HIV and 92 children and adolescents with hemophilia who were seronegative and of comparable age, demographic characteristics, and disease severity. RESULTS: HIV-seropositive children and adolescents reported less positive affect [(lower well being) (P < .05)], and more frequent hemophilia-related school absences were identified among HIV-infected patients (P < .005). However, the two groups demonstrated surprisingly comparable levels of psychological, social, hemophilia-related adjustment, general family relations, and hemophilia-related family adaptation, as reported by patients and parents. However, mothers of HIV-seropositive children and adolescents reported higher levels of general psychological distress (P < .008) and higher levels of distress related to hemophilia (P < .0002) than parents of HIV-negative children. CONCLUSIONS: Seropositive children and adolescents with hemophilia demonstrate psychological resilience and levels of psychological adjustment that were comparable to seronegative counterparts. However, mothers of seropositive children were more distressed than mothers of HIV-negative children. Practitioners should ensure that stressed mothers obtain necessary psychological support.