This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects African Americans. The Centers for Disease Control report that African Americans comprise ~50% of all new HIV/AIDS cases while representing only 12% of the US population. HIV patients face potential psychosocial stressors and cultural barriers that affect the course of their illness. Research illustrates that depression among HIV+ individuals is elevated when compared to HIV- individuals; depression was highly prevalent in males and half of the females suffered posttraumatic stress disorder. A history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with risky sexual behavior, increased drug use/abuse and lower psychosocial functioning. Women reporting CSA also report a significantly negative affect on their psychosocial functioning in terms of mental health, medical health, and quality of life. A study examining CSA in boys found an increase in depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide attempts and substance abuse diagnoses. While research suggests a negative correlation between quality of life and HIV status, there is a dearth of research investigating the impact of social stressors and low quality of life on T-cell and viral load counts and how these stressors differ in HIV positive men and women. This study will investigate possible gender differences and quality of life (mild to sub-clinical levels of depression/anxiety symptomology in the Beck inventories) of HIV+ African American patients with and without reported CSA. In addition, this study represents the first of a series investigating behavioral factors impact on HIV/AIDS disease progression and quality of life.
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