Relationship of coping style to affective state and perceived social support in asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV-infected persons: implications for clinical management.

The authors describe the relationship of three coping styles to affective state (mood) and perceived social support in 29 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected homosexual/bisexual men between the ages of 18 and 45 years. Active-behavioral coping was significantly related to enhanced mood and greater perceived social support. Avoidance coping was significantly related to greater mood disturbance and lower social support. No relationships were found for active-cognitive coping. Recommendations for clinical management of HIV-infected persons and their traditional and/or nontraditional family follow from the findings.