Mediational models of spirituality and depressive symptomatology among HIV-positive Puerto Rican women.
Simoni JM, Ortiz MZ.
Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Box 351525, Seattle, Washington 98195-1525, USA. jsimoni@u.washington.edu
A survey of 142 Puerto Rican women living with HIV/AIDS in New York City revealed high Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scores, with 66% of the sample scoring above the conventional threshold of possible clinical depression. Most respondents (71%) were Catholic, 29% considered themselves members of a church or other place of worship, and 30% reported attending religious services 1-3 times a month. As predicted, spirituality was high and negatively associated with CES-D scores. A series of simultaneous multiple regression analyses controlling for all potentially confounding medical and sociodemographic variables demonstrated that both mastery and self-esteem scores mediated this relationship. Implications for future research and the provision of services to HIV-positive Puerto Rican women are discussed.
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PMID: 12647322 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]