Volume : 3, Issue : 5, May - 2014

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN USING COPING STRATEGIES BY HIV / AIDS PATIENTS

Jyanthi, Dr. V. Srikanth Reddy

Abstract :

Coping is a process that is concerned with what a person actually thinks and does in reaction to the specific stressful event. HIV / AIDs patients primarily cope with the threat of AIDs by adopting fighting spirit. They face the initial stages with excitement followed by the phase of psychological changes to plan future. In the present study an attempt is made to identify the coping mechanisms used by HIV / AIDs patients to over come their stressful conditions and whether coping to stress depends up on their gender. Sample of the study consisted of forty four HIV / AIDs patients who live in and around Tirupati. Results revealed that HIV / AIDs male patients were using more of emotion focus strategies followed by appraisal focused, problem focused and defence strategies. Where as HIV positive female patients were also using more of emotion focused strategies followed by problem focused ,appraisal focused, and defence mechanisms