Mothers' acceptance-rejection of their children infected with HIV: the role of the mothers' social axioms, psychological distress, and relationships with the partner.

OBJECTIVE The present study examines the effect of having a child infected with HIV on the mother-child relationship. The study also examines how the mother's social axioms, psychological distress, and relationships with her partner affect her parenting of the child infected with HIV. METHOD The study was conducted in Kazakhstan in the wake of a children's HIV epidemic. Mothers of children infected with HIV (n = 53) were compared to mothers of healthy children (n = 97). RESULTS Compared to mothers of healthy children, mothers of children infected with HIV reported a higher level of acceptance of their children as well as a stronger belief in the "reward for application" axiom, a higher level of religiosity, and better relationships with their partner. Among mothers of both healthy children and children infected with HIV, the belief in the "reward for application" axiom, a low level of social cynicism, and good relationships with their partner was associated with a higher level of acceptance of their children. Among mothers of healthy children but not among mothers of children infected with HIV, psychological distress was associated with a lower level of acceptance of their children. CONCLUSIONS Mothers of children infected with HIV demonstrated a mobilization pattern of adjustment to their child's illness.