Effect of Coping Strategies on Social Stigma:A Study of Persons with HIV

HIV is a life-threatening disease that once make a person infected, continues to attack the immune system of a person and makes it weak even to such an extent that person does not remain as capable as to fight against even an ordinary diseases. This study aims to understand the relationship between ways of coping processes and social stigma among 159 persons having HIV who were diagnosed before six months. As a screening test, General Health Questionnaire was administered. After that, Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Social Stigma were administered to measure ways of coping processes and social stigma of the persons. Descriptive Analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were applied for the statistical analysis. Statistical Analysis of the data showed that there was significant negative correlation between Distancing and Social Stigma (r=-0.17), Positive Reappraisal and Social Stigma (r=-0.24), Planful Problem Solving and Social Stigma (r=-0.23).