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Women who are HIV positive in the Lower Mainland : A survey of social support

University of British Columbia

This study examined whether women who were HIV positive perceived a lack of social support, and in what areas these perceived inadequacies existed. Women who were HIV positive (n=17) and living in the Lower Mainland were recruited by staff at three liaison service-providing organizations to provide a cross-sectional, non-random convenience sample. A survey questionnaire which included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was either self- administered or conducted via a telephone interview. Statistical significance was found only for support scores crosstabulated with disclosure or non-disclosure of HIV status to friends, but not to family. Women who had HIV- related illnesses did not perceive less support than those who had been asymptomatic. Overall ratings of satisfaction with support were higher than anticipated. The results suggest that more exploratory research is necessary to clarify the meaning of social support for women living with HIV/AIDS.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-01-14

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3634

Social Work

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace