The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has estimated that 80,000 HIV-infected women of childbearing age who were alive in 1992 will leave approximately 125,000 to 150,000 children orphaned. Parental death from causes other than IDS has been consistently associated with poor child adjustment, long term mental health symptoms, and behavioral problems. These problems are likely to be exacerbated for children orphaned by AIDS, given the stigmatization of the disease, the frequent lack of a surviving parent, and proverty. There have been no prospective studies of child bereavement from any type of parental death, including death from AIDS. Therefore, the adjustment of 120 children age 6-11 who have a mother with AIDS (MWA) will be monitored over time; children and their MWAs will be recruited from primary health care clinics in Los Angeles (LA). The specific goals of this study are to: (1) to longitudinally follow the mental health, behavioral, and social adjustment of children of MWAs over 36 months, throughout the illness of the MWA, her death, and during the child's transition to a new guardian; (2) identify characteristics of the child that may mediate the impact of parental loss, including background factors, skills (problem solving, coping, and self-valuing), and their relationship with the MWA and later with their new guardian; and (3) evaluate characteristics of the MWA and then of the new guardian that may mediate th impact of parental loss, including background factors and parenting skills. This study will benefit both adult and child researchers. It will provide guidelines for interventions for MWAs of young children on how to parent effectively and improve family functioning while coping with multiple stressors, including physical symptoms and end-stage disease state. More importantly, findings from this study will provide a developmentally-linked description over time bereavement process for children whose parents die of other causes. Additionally, evaluation of children's long-term adjustment (mental health, behavioral, and social outcomes), will assist in detemining resiliency factors and risk factors for children who are orphaned by ADS.
| Murphy, Debra A; Marelich, William D; Herbeck, Diane M et al. (2016) Career readiness and externalizing behaviors of children affected by maternal HIV/AIDS: 15-year outcomes of the PACT study. Vulnerable Child Youth Stud 11:223-237 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Roberts, Kathleen Johnston; Herbeck, Diane M (2013) Adolescent response to having an HIV-infected mother. AIDS Care 25:715-20 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Roberts, Kathleen Johnston; Herbeck, Diane M (2012) HIV-positive Mothers' Communication About Safer Sex And STD Prevention With Their Children. J Fam Issues 33:136-157 |
| Marelich, William D; Murphy, Debra A; Payne, Diana L et al. (2012) Self-competence Among Early and Middle Adolescents Affected by Maternal HIV/AIDS. Int J Adolesc Youth 17:21-33 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Roberts, Kathleen Johnston; Herbeck, Diane M (2012) HIV-positive mothers with late adolescent/early adult children: ""empty nest"" concerns. Health Care Women Int 33:387-402 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Marelich, William D; Lanza, H Isabella et al. (2012) Effects of Maternal HIV on Children's Psychosocial Adjustment with Peers and with Their Mother. Vulnerable Child Youth Stud 7:357-370 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Marelich, William D; Herbeck, Diane M (2012) Impact of maternal HIV health: a 12-year study of children in the Parents And Children Coping Together project. J Adolesc Health 51:313-8 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Roberts, Kathleen Johnston; Herbeck, Diane M (2011) HIV Disease Impact on Mothers: What They Miss During Their Children's Developmental Years. J Child Fam Stud 20:361-369 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Herbeck, Diane M; Marelich, William D et al. (2010) Predictors of Sexual Behavior Among Early and Middle Adolescents Affected by Maternal HIV. Int J Sex Health 22:195-204 |
| Murphy, Debra A; Marelich, William D; Herbeck, Diane M et al. (2009) Family routines and parental monitoring as protective factors among early and middle adolescents affected by maternal HIV/AIDS. Child Dev 80:1676-91 |
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