Kindred spirits : social support of HIV-positive individuals

The purpose of this study was to discover more about the experiences of HIV-positive individuals with regard to their social support networks and the types of caring they are offered. An open-ended interview format was chosen to provide depth and richness from the personal accounts of fourteen HIV-positive men and women. Transcripts and field notes were analyzed, using standard qualitative methodologies, to reveal themes and patterns.

Study participants reported a variety of supportive behaviors offered to them, which were thematized into fourteen categories of emotional, informational, attitudinal, and practical forms of support. Positive and negative examples were noted for each theme. Phases of adjustment to the illness, common sources of support, unmet support needs, and strategies for coping with the illness were also thematized according to prevalent patterns.

Implications of the study for nursing practice and social change are discussed.