Coping strategies of people with HIV

Facing a traumatic event, such as being diagnosed with HIV, require developing of coping mechanism. The purpose of this study in the theoretical part was to give a review of psychological aspects of HIV and inform about research of coping strategies among people with HIV/AIDS. The second purpose of this study was to show typical coping strategies of people with HIV in Czech Republic. Five asymptomatic participants were interviewed, the time since diagnosis was 3-14 years (mean age 7,6), the age in the sample was from 31 to 44 years, (mean age 36,0 years) It seems, that the way of reaction to diagnosis differ from the way they cope now, so the strategies can possibly change in the future. Our participants develop these strategies of coping: rational problem solving, self-appraisal, hedonism and religiosity/search for meanin