Interpersonal distance and coping in children with HIV and cancer.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-1995

Abstract

We compared interpersonal distance and coping among two groups of pre-school pediatric patients diagnosed with either HIV or cancer and a third group of healthy children. In comparison to the children with cancer, children with HIV indicated greater mother-child interpersonal distance--a finding that correlated with mothers' reports of social withdrawal. Other notable findings included increased father-child distance in the HIV population and mother-child discrepancies of perceived interpersonal distance. In addition, seven of the children with HIV indicated that the adults turn away--a finding that correlated with the children's knowledge of their illness. We also explored the possible role of protective communication in the pediatric HIV population.

Volume

24

Issue

2

First Page

119

Last Page

131

ISSN

0273-9615

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry

PubMedID

10143002

Department(s)

Department of Psychiatry

Document Type

Article

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