| Summary: | Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Psychology) === Due to the chronicity of the HIV infection, substantial changes may occur in the life of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs), emerging new needs must be understood and dealt with, enhancing the already existing ones. Understanding the self-concept of PLWHAS is essential and was situated within Kellys Personal Construct Theory. Increased self-concept makes the individual living with HIV perceive him/herself in a positive way; on the other hand, those with affected self-concept and implicative dilemmas may see themselves as more limited and discouraged, with great implications for mental health. Given the circumstances, the present study aims were to evaluate the sociodemographic, disease, psychosocial factors, as well as cognitive factors such as self-concept and implicative dilemmas and to relate it to depression and risk-taking behaviours in PLWHAs. This quantitative study administered a battery of questionnaires namely, the 1.) Personal and Demographic Questionnaire, 2.) Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II), 3.) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Repertory Grid to 142 adults living with HIV and AIDS who were attending a public health clinic in a resource-constrained area in the Cape Metropole Region.
|
|---|
