Family as a Source of Support and Stress: Experiences of HIV-Positive Women

Abstract: The relationships that women with HIV have with their families have a significant role in how they manage the many challenges that they face. As a source of emotional and practical assistance, family can be a wonderful resource; but, it also has the potential to bring stigma, rejection, and mental anguish. This article examines the ways in which women who are HIV-positive may discover that their families can serve as both a source of support and a cause of stress. With the use of previously conducted research, interviews, and qualitative case studies, it accomplishes this goal. The findings indicate that the family can serve as both a source of support and a cause of stress, depending on factors such as the individual's socioeconomic status, cultural background, and the level of knowledge they possess regarding HIV. There are some recommendations for steps that can help build family bonds and minimize the negative impacts of family stigma that are included at the end of the paper.