P-1405 - Cognitive Coping Strategies in Mothers of Hiv-infected Children and Their Connection to the Mother's Psychological Distress, Parenting and Spousal Relations

Abstract

The main goal of the present study was to investigate the coping strategies of mothers of HIV-infected children and their relation to the mothers’ psychological distress, parenting, and spousal relations. The study was conducted in Kazakhstan in the wake of a children's HIV-epidemic caused by the use of unsterile instruments and infusions of infected blood in State hospitals.

Mothers of HIV-infected children undergoing testing and treatment in the municipal HIV Center participated in the study (n = 63). The most frequently used strategies of the mothers were focusing on planning and catastrophizing; the least common strategies they employed were putting into perspective and self-blame. Focusing on planning and rumination were associated with a high level of acceptance of the child, while self-blame was associated with a low level of acceptance. Positive refocusing was associated with a low level of psychological distress, and catastrophizing was associated with a high level of psychological distress. Self-blame was associated with a low level of spousal relations, while positive refocusing and focusing on planning were associated with high levels of spousal relations. The results obtained are discussed in light of stress-coping theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), the positive psychology paradigm (Seligman et al., 2005), and the two-track model of grieving (Rubin, 1996).