Coping styles and quality of life in people with HIV/AIDS: a review

In the midst of the dramatic global escalation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the relative longevity of patients continues to increase. The success with which one manages to cope with the continuous stress attached to HIV/AIDS impacts directly on one’s quality of life. It is therefore of major importance to determine which coping styles correlate positively with quality of life in people with HIV/AIDS. In general, the research literature indicates that problem-focused, active coping styles are superior to emotion-focused, passive coping styles, including avoidance. However, interesting contradictory findings have come to light in South Africa, namely that an avoidant coping style also seems to be beneficial in the African socio-cultural context.