psycho-social aspects and coping methods in two groups of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)

the purpose of this study is to examine the psycho-social aspects, coping methods, as well as the quality of social relationship in two groups of patients with hiv infection. this study is ex-post-facto research. subjects are 10 patients (7 male, 3 female with mean age of 31.5) infected with hiv who lived with their families. the patients were screended by the well-being questionnaire and were divided into two equal groups of high psychological well-being and low psychological well-being. then 3 questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of their social relationships, coping methods, and psycho-social stressors. the data were analyzed using independent t-test and correlation coefficient. the result showed no significant differnces between the two groups in terms of the psycho-social stressors and the distress caused by these stressors. however, there were significant differences within each grou between the effects of psycho-social stressors before and after being infected. also the findings showed significant differences between patients with high psychologial well-being and those with low psychological well-being in terms of applying active cognitive and behavioral coping methods. finally, analysis of data relating to quality of social relationship, in the areas fo social support, conflictual relations and depth of relations, showed no significant differences between the two groups.