ABSTRACT
Living with HIV means facing a lifetime of physical, psychological, and social challenges (e.g., Bartlett & Gallant, 2001; Castro et al., 1998; Hoffman, 1996; Nott & Vedhara, 1999; Siegel, Karus, Epstein, & Raveis, 1996). Along with others who have potentially life-threatening diseases, an HIV diagnosis frequently involves confronting a wide range of troubles such as financial and health problems; upheavals in relationships with family members, lovers, friends, and coworkers; in addition to significant physical discomfort (e.g., Bor, Miller, & Goldman, 1993; Chidwick & Borrill, 1996; Derlega & Barbee, 1998a; Greene & Faulkner, 2002; Kalichman, 1995; Miles, Burchinal, Holditch-Davis, Wasilevski, & Christian, 1997; Pakenham, Dadds, & Terry, 1996; Sowell et al., 1997; Thompson, Nanni, & Levine, 1996; Van Devanter, Thacker, Bass, & Arnold, 1999; Winstead et al., 2002). Some difficulties, however, may be unique for people living with HIV. Unlike other diseases, someone who is known to have HIV may become the target of prejudice (e.g., Herek et al., 2002). This kind of reaction is likely to affect the way people living with HIV process decisions to disclose their infection. However, more information is still needed about how HIV disclosure choices are made.
