Citation

Simoni JM, Ng MT. Health Psychol. 2002; 21(1): 89-93.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle 98105-1525, USA. jsimoni@u.washington.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11846349

Abstract

This study of 230 predominantly poor Hispanic and African American women aged 25 to 61 years living with HIV/AIDS in New York City revealed high levels of both sexual (39%) and physical (44%) trauma before the age of 16. Both types of early trauma were correlated with later trauma, and all forms of trauma were significantly associated with current perceived health. In multivariate analyses controlling for relevant covariates, the Powerful Others and Internal Control subscales of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales (K. A. Wallston, B. S. Wallston, & R. DeVellis, 1978) acted as independent predictors of perceived health rather than (as hypothesized) mediators of the association between trauma and perceived health. Findings underscore the importance of addressing trauma and perceptions of control over one's physical health in the provision of health services to HIV-positive women.

Language: en