This study used a pretest-posttest pre-experimental design to examine the effect of a 10-week behavioral medicine support group intervention in a sample of persons with HIV Using Solomon's psychoneuroimmunologic framework, the 10-week behavioral medicine program focused on the mind/body interaction, the relaxation response, coping with illness, hardiness, and nutrition. Pearson correlation coefficients and t tests were performed on the pre- and postintervention measures of hardiness, social support, immune function, and perceived health status. Results of the study indicated that hardiness (preintervention) and CD4 counts (pre- and postintervention) were significantly correlated with health status; however, CD4 counts decreased over the course of the behavioral medicine program. Implications for nursing and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Baigis-Smith, J.
, Coombs, V. J., & Larson, E. (1994). HIV infection, exercise, and immune function. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 26, 277-280.
2.
Bozzette, S. A.
, Hays, R. D., Berry, S. H., & Kanouse, D. E. (1994). A Perceived Health Index for use in persons with advanced HIV disease: Deviation, reliability, and validity. Medical Care, 32, 716-731.
3.
Burack, J. H.
, Barrett, D. C., Stall, P. D., Chesney, M. A., Ekstrand, M. L., & Coates, T. J. (1993). Depressive symptoms and CD4 lymphocyte decline among HIV-infected men. Journal of the American Medical Association, 270, 2568-2573.
4.
Brandt, P. A.
, & Weinert, C. (1985). The PRQ—A social support measure. Nursing Research, 30, 277-280.
5.
Centers for Disease Control
(1995). AIDS Quarterly Surveillance Report, January, 1995.
6.
Cleary, P. D.
, Fowler, F. J., Weissman, J., Massagli, M. P., Wilson, I., Seage, G. R., Gatsonis, C., & Epstein, A. (1993). Health-related quality of life in persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Medical Care, 31, 569-580.
7.
DiPasquale, J. A.
(1990). The psychological effects of support groups on individuals infected with the AIDS virus. Cancer Nursing, 13(5), 278-285.
8.
Donlou, J. N.
, Wolcott, D. L., Gottlieb, M. S., & Landsverk, J. (1985). Psychosocial aspects of AIDS and AIDS-related complex: A pilot study. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 3, 39-55.
9.
Holmes, T. H.
, & Rahe, R. H. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11, 213-218.
10.
Houldin, A. D.
, Lev, E., Prystowsky, A. B., Redei, E., & Lowery, B. J. (1991). Psychoneuroimmunology: A review of the literature. Holistic Nursing Practice, 5(4), 10-21.
11.
Keithley, J. K.
, Zeller, J. M., Szeluga, D. J., & Urbanski, P. A. (1992). Nutritional alterations in persons with HIV infection. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 24, 183-189.
12.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K.
, & Glaser, R. (1995). Psychoneuroimmunology and health consequences: Data and shared mechanisms. Psychosomatic Medicine, 57, 269-274.
13.
Kobasa, S. C.
(1979). Stressful life events, personality, and health: An inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(1), 1-11.
14.
Lubeck, D. P.
, & Fries, J. F. (1992). Changes in quality of life among persons with HIV infection. Quality of Life Research, 1, 359-366.
15.
McGough, K. N.
(1990). Assessing social support of people with AIDS. Oncology Nursing Forum, 17(1), 31-35.
16.
Nicholas, P. K.
, & Webster, A. (1993). Hardiness and social support in HIV. Applied Nursing Research, 6(3), 132-136.
17.
Nunes, J. A.
, Raymond, S. J., Nicholas, P. K., Leuner, J. D., & Webster, A. (1995). Social support, quality of life, immune function and health status in HIV. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 13(2), 174-198.
18.
Pollock, S. E.
(1986). Human response to chronic illness: Physiologic and psychosocial adaptation. Nursing Research, 35, 90-95.
19.
Pollock, S. E.
, & Duffy, M. E. (1990). The health-related hardiness scale: Development and psychometric analysis. Nursing Research, 39, 218-222.
20.
Ribble, D.
(1989). Psychosocial support groups for people with HIV infection and AIDS. Holistic Nursing Practice, 3, 52-62.
21.
Solomon, G. F.
(1987). Psychoneuroimmunology: Interactions between central nervous system and immune system. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 18, 1-9.
22.
Solomon, G. F.
, Kemeny, M. E., & Temoshok, L. (1991). Psychoneuroimmunologic aspects of HIV. In R. Ader, D. L. Felton, & N. Cohen (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology (2nd ed., pp. 1081-1113). New York: Academic Press.
23.
Temoshok, L.
(1988). Psychoimmunology and AIDS. Advances in Biochemical Psychopharmacology, 44, 187-197.
24.
Theorell, T.
, Blomkvist, V., Jonsson, H., Schulman, S., Bemtorp, E., & Stigendal, L. (1995). Social support and the development of immune function in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Psychosomatic Medicine, 57, 32-36.
25.
Webster, A.
(1992). Psychoneuroimmunology and HIV. In H. Benson & E. M. Stuart (Eds.), The wellness book (pp. 351-361). New York: Simon & Schuster.
26.
Weinert, C.
(1987). Asocial support measure: PRQ85. Nursing Research, 36(5), 273-277.
27.
Zich, J.
, & Temoshok, L. (1987). Perceptions of social support in men with AIDS and ARC: Relationships with distress and hardiness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 17, 193-215.
