The Psychosocial Impact of Multiple Deaths from AIDS

Abstract

The cumulative psychosocial impact of multiple deaths due to AIDS within a single, gay community was examined. A personal construct psychology model of bereavement was used to generate hypotheses about the psychosocial functioning of the members of two gay communities differing in the extent of their bereavement. Their psychosocial functioning was assessed through content analysis of their responses to an open-ended interview question. Two hundred fifteen men participated in the study. We hypothesized that the more bereaved community would show more anxiety (in the form of death, mutilation, separation, anxiety, and guilt), depression, and indirectly expressed anger. The hypotheses for anxiety and anger were supported, but not the hypothesis for depression.