AIDS-orphanhood and caregiver HIV/AIDS sickness status: effects on psychological symptoms in South African youth.

Journal article

OBJECTIVE: Research has established that AIDS-orphaned youth are at high risk of internalizing psychological distress. However, little is known about youth living with caregivers who are unwell with AIDS or youth simultaneously affected by AIDS-orphanhood and caregiver AIDS sickness. METHODS: 1025 South African youth were interviewed in 2005 and followed up in 2009 (71% retention). Participants completed standardized measures of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. Comparison groups were youth who were AIDS-orphaned, other-orphaned, and nonorphaned, and those whose caregivers were sick with AIDS, sick with another disease, or healthy. RESULTS: Longitudinal analyses showed that both AIDS-orphanhood and caregiver AIDS sickness predicted increased depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms over a 4-year period, independently of sociodemographic cofactors and of each other. Caregiver sickness or death by non-AIDS causes, and having a healthy or living caregiver, did not predict youth symptomatology. Youths simultaneously affected by caregiver AIDS sickness and AIDS-orphanhood showed cumulative negative effects. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that policy and interventions, currently focused on orphanhood, should include youth whose caregivers are unwell with AIDS.

Authors: Cluver, L; Orkin, M; Boyes, M; Gardner, F; Nikelo, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Journal: Journal of Pediatric Psychology
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 857-867
• Publication date: 2012-02-07
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jss004
• EISSN: 1465-735X
• ISSN: 0146-8693
• Language: English
• Keywords: Health Status; Male; HIV Infections; Mental Disorders; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Female; South Africa; Anxiety; Stress, Psychological; Depression; Humans; Child, Orphaned; Caregivers