A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF STATE ANXIETY, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND COPING STYLES AS PERCEIVED BY MALE HOMOSEXUALS PARTICIPATING IN THE WORRIED WELL, AIDS-RELATED COMPLEX, AND ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME SUPPORT GROUPS.
Contributors: Catholic University of America.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 101
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Using crisis theory as the theoretical framework, a comparative study identified the degree of state anxiety, the quality of social support, and coping styles of male homosexuals, the group most affected by the AIDS epidemic. Three distinctive categories were studied: the worried well (asymptomatic individuals with HIV status positive, negative, or not known), the AIDS-related-complex, and the AIDS groups.

The sample consisted of 60 men (20 in each group). Four tools were used to collect the data: a demographic data sheet, the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, and the Revised Way of Coping Checklist. The study data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Spearman correlation procedure, and the Scheffe test.

The findings indicated that the mean of state anxiety for all three groups was the same. Subjects in the worried well and AIDS groups perceived to have the same amount of social support. In contrast, there was a lower level of support seen to be provided to those individuals in the ARC group. Findings showed that there was no difference in coping styles for subjects in each category. However, men in the worried well tended to use self-blame as a coping style more frequently than those in the ARC or AIDS categories. This study also showed that lovers were perceived to be providing more support than mothers and fathers. No correlation was found between social support and coping. The groups were more alike in demographic factors than unlike. Only age and retirement status were found to be significantly different. Subjects in the AIDS group were older and more likely to be retired.

This study attempted to discern any significant difference in state anxiety, social support, and coping styles among three separate groups comprised of individuals most affected by the AIDS crisis. Findings have implications for nursing practice and nursing administration. Future research should explore the particular need of people with ARC for social support and also identify ways of providing it.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-09, Section: B, page: 3672.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, 1988.

School code: 0043.