HIV/AIDS disclosure decision-making and outcomes: A longitudinal, event-based analysis

To date, research examining the nature of HIV/AIDS disclosure has typically examined the global associations between frequency of disclosure and indices of well-being while focusing little attention on the outcomes of specific disclosure events. In the current work. I articulate a conceptual framework that can be used to guide empirical analyses of HIV/AIDS disclosure events and provide an initial test of this framework. The current research examines disclosure decision-making and outcome processes among a convenience sample of 234 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at two time points. Analyses provide initial evidence regarding the interrelations among three important components of the disclosure process—antecedent factors, disclosure positivity, and outcomes—and examine the relationships between discrete disclosure events and both long-term indices of well-being and subsequent disclosure events. Discussion centers on the potential utility of event-based conceptualizations of disclosure to clarify the causal relationships between disclosure and outcomes and identify domains for future intervention efforts.