Marseille 2007
| Abstract #338 - Study of psychological characteristics of people living with HIV | ||||
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Session: 6.30: Posters A (Poster) on Monday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Prof Samvel Grigoryan - Natioal AIDS Center, Armenia |
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| Additional Authors: Ms Nina Manukyan, Ms Lilit Shahbazyan, | ||||
| Aim: Psychological surveys were conducted in 2005-2006 among people living with HIV (PLHIV) with the aim to study their psychological characteristics, levels of their aggressiveness, of their resilience to stress and of their social adaptation. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Psychological surveys were carried out among 40 PLHIV aged 20-50, whereof 28 were males and 12 females. The methods of psychological conversation, testing and questionnaires were used to study the PLHIVs psychological characteristics, levels of their aggressiveness, of their resilience to stress and of their social adaptation. To reveal individual characteristics Eysenck personality tests were used. T.Holmes and R.Rahe methodology on revealing resilience to stress and social adaptation was applied to determine the levels of resilience to stress and of social adaptation of those surveyed. S.Rosenzweig methodology was used to reveal aggressiveness. Questioning was used to obtain general data about those surveyed. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The results of psychological testing show that 41% of those surveyed have low levels of resilience to stress and of social adaptation, and 20.5% - have borderline index. According to Eysenck personality tests, 51.3% of those surveyed are extraverts, 48.7% - introverts. Based on indices of nervousness level, 64.1% of those surveyed assessed as emotionally unstable or nervous, whereas 35.9% are emotionally stable. According to 4 types of temperaments, 33.3% of those surveyed are choleric persons, 30.8% - are sanguine persons, 20.5% - are phlegmatic persons and 15.4% - are melancholic persons. 50% of the surveyed individuals had isolated themselves from their relatives and did not want to communicate with other people. All the surveyed melancholic persons, 34.3% of the phlegmatic persons, 16.6% of choleric persons and 12.5% of sanguine persons had this psychological problem. The results of the surveys conducted according to S. Rosenzweig methodology of revealing aggressiveness show that 94.9% are characterized with non-aggressive behavior. 48.7% of the surveyed individuals faced difficulties in interrelations with other people after they had been diagnosed HIV positive. 41% of those surveyed reported that they did not see any sense in their lives, of whom 53.8% melancholic persons, 50% of the phlegmatic and sanguine persons and 16.7% of choleric persons. 28.2% of the surveyed individuals indicated lack of self-confidence. This psychological problem is peculiar to 53.8% of melancholic persons, 33.3% phlegmatic persons, 12.5% of sanguine persons and to 8.3% of choleric persons. The psychological conversation revealed that the absolute majority of the surveyed PLHIV (97%) had different types of fear, whereof 82% had a fear of death. 68% of those surveyed complain of insomnia. | ||||
| Discussion: Thus, despite the fact that only 38.5% of those surveyed indicated the importance of providing psychological support to PLHIV, the results of the study demonstrated high rates of their emotional instability, low levels of their resilience to stress and of their social adaptation and availability of various psychological problems, which prove the necessity of intensive psychological support and regular provision of psychological counseling. This study results were used for providing effective psychological counseling and for setting up self-help groups. | ||||
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