Abstract
Individuals with HIV spectrum disease including AIDS face a multitude of stressors. It is reasonable to ask whether stress management may have a buffering or beneficial effect on quality of life and health status. This chapter reviews evidence in this area. First, the authors review some of the stressors faced by people who are HIV positive. Next, the authors review intervention studies (including cognitive-behavioral, relaxation, exercise, and massage). These studies encompass the authors' own work during the past 15 years and the work of others dealing with individuals at different stages of HIV infection and include psychoneuroimmunology studies demonstrating changes in endocrine and immune system components that occur with these interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)