Skip Navigation



Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published online on May 11, 2006
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsj121
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
32/2/123    most recent
jsj121v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by New, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Elliott, B. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by New, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Elliott, B. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received June 3, 2005
Revised March 21, 2005
Accepted March 31, 2006

Article

Psychological Adjustment in Children and Families Living with HIV

Michelle J. New PhD 1 *, Sonia S. Lee PhD 1, and Brenda M. Elliott PhD 1

1 Children’s National Medical Center, NW, Washington, DC

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Michelle J. New, E-mail: mnew{at}cnmc.org


  Abstract

Objective To assess psychological adjustment in children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their primary caregivers. Methods The study protocol included use of standardized questionnaires to assess emotional and behavioral health of 57 children and 54 caregivers (Phase 1). Positive screening led to standardized interviews to assess current psychiatric diagnoses (Phase 2). Results Of the 16 children who entered Phase 2, 6 (38%) met the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. Of the 15 adults who met the screening criteria, 13 completed a computerized psychiatric interview and all 13 (100%) met the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusions While important mental health needs were identified in families with HIV, the majority of families did not exhibit mental health disorders. These results might reflect the substantial psychosocial resilience of these families. Further study is needed to determine to what extent the mental health needs of children and their caregivers are being met. In addition, identification of protective factors in resilience and coping in families living with a chronic illness is warranted.

Keywords: children and families; HIV; psychological adjustment.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.