A psychosocial model of distress over time in early HIV-1 infection: The role of life stressors, social support and coping

This study tested whether a psychosocial model-consisting of life event Stressors, social support and coping strategy-was associated with distress over time in 40 homosexual men with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. With prior distress controlled, changes in distress were associated with changes in negatively rated life events and social support (replicating our cross-sectional findings) and with coping strategy (disengagenjent/denial, venting emotions and religion). Stringent tests that ruled out spurious moderator effects yielded significant stress moderator interactions for social support and active coping, as well as evidence for nonlinear relationships for both main effects and interactions. These findings confirm that the psychosocial model is associated with distress over time during asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. The model thus provides a framework for screening to identify patients who would benefit from clinical interventions while simultaneously identifying the areas most needing intervention.