Year: 2017
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Worldwide approximately 3.6 million people age 50 and older are living with HIV. Few studies have explored successful ageing from the insider perspective of those living well with HIV infection. This study draws upon the lived experience and wisdom of older, HIV-positive adults from Ontario, Canada to understand their strategies for successful ageing. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 30 HIV-positive individuals age 50 + years. Purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit individuals, and constructivist grounded theory coding techniques were used for analysis. Participants ranged from 50–73 years (M=58, ± =6.1), were predominantly male (66.7%) and White (66.7%). Thirteen percent were Black Canadians, some of whom were immigrants to Canada from endemic African countries. Sixty percent identified as gay. The average time since first HIV diagnosis was 18 years (range: 4–30, ±= 7.6) and 56% were diagnosed before active antiretroviral therapy (ART) became available. Themes of successful ageing were: 1) Resilience strategies, including subthemes of self-care, spirituality, HIV identity and mastery; 2) Social support, including the evaluation of positive versus negative influences in social network; and 3) Environmental contexts, i.e. financial precariousness and environmental support. Stigma and struggles to maintain health were identified as impediments to successful ageing. Models of successful ageing must take into account the need for subjective appraisals of success in populations suffering from life threatening illnesses including HIV. Practitioners should consider organically existing strengths in this population in order to provide intervention development for older adults who are working to manage their HIV.
Source: Innovation in Aging
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,977
OpenAlex ID: W2739946002