Strategies for self-management of HIV-related anxiety

• Published in: AIDS care Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 597 - 607
• Main Authors: Kemppainen, J. K., Eller, L. S., Bunch, E., Hamilton, M. J., Dole, P., Holzemer, W., Kirksey, K., Nicholas, P. K., Corless, I. B., Coleman, C., Nokes, K. M., Reynolds, N., Sefcik, L., Wantland, D., Tsai, Y-F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-2006; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - therapy; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Comparative analysis; Depression; Diseases; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health care; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Illness and personality; Illness, stress and coping; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Mental health; Middle Aged; Norway; Norway - epidemiology; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Self Care - methods; Self-management; Taiwan; Taiwan - epidemiology; Treatment Outcome; U.S.A; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Asia; United States; Norway; Europe; America; Taiwan; North America; Social environment; Affect affectivity; Mental health; Anxiety disorder; Selfcare; Anxiety; Public health; Human; Immunopathology; Crosscultural study; Daily living; Retroviridae; AIDS; Emotion emotionality; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Symptomatology; Viral disease; Self regulation; Strategy; Typology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451
• DOI: 10.1080/09540120500275726

This study examines the frequency and effectiveness of commonly used strategies for self management of anxiety in an international sample of 502 participants from Norway (n=42, 8%), Taiwan (n=35, 7%), and the US (n=426, 85%). An activities checklist summarized into five categories of self-care behaviours including activities/thoughts, exercise, medications, complementary therapies, and substance use determined self-care behaviours. Ratings of frequency and effectiveness for each self-care activity were also included. Praying received the highest overall rating of effectiveness of any self-management strategies included in this study at 8.10 (scale 1 to 10), followed by meditation (7.37), exercising (7.32), using relaxation techniques (7.22), cooking (6.98), and walking (6.90). An analysis of effectiveness scores for each self-care strategy by country reflected a wide variation. The three most effective anxiety self-care strategies reported by participants from Norway included exercise (7.31), walking (6.96), and reading (6.44). Highest ratings of effectiveness by participants from Taiwan included talking with others with HIV (6.0), attending support groups (6.0), and exercising (6.0). US participants allocated highest ratings of effectiveness to complementary/alternative therapies, including praying (8.10), meditating (7.43), and using relaxation techniques (7.35). Regardless of the country, watching television and talking with family and friends were the two most frequently reported strategies. These strategies for self-management of HIV-related anxiety are important for clinicians to be aware of in the care of persons with HIV/AIDS.