Faculty Articles

Family mechanisms of structural ecosystems therapy for HIV-seropositive women in drug recovery

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Publication Title

Health Psychology

Volume

31

Issue/Number

5

First Page

591

ISSN

0278-6133

Last Page

600

Abstract/Excerpt

OBJECTIVE:

Examined the effects of Structural Ecosystems Therapy (SET), a family intervention for women living with HIV or AIDS, compared to a psycho-educational health group (HG) intervention, and reciprocal relationships between women and family members.

METHOD:

Women (n = 126) and their family members (n = 269) were randomized to one of two conditions and assessed every 4 months for 12 months. Family functioning, drug use, and psychological distress was reported by multiple family members.

RESULTS:

Multilevel growth curve modeling showed a different family functioning trajectory between SET and HG, B = -0.05, SE = 0.02, p < .01. There was no intervention effect on the trajectory of family-level drug abstinence or psychological distress, but there was a significant difference in the trajectory of psychological distress after controlling for change in family functioning, B = -0.28, SE = 0.13, p < .05. There was an indirect effect from treatment through change in family functioning to change in psychological distress, B = 0.29, SE = 0.12, p < .05. With respect to reciprocal effects, family drug abstinence significantly predicted women's abstinence 4 months later, B = 0.22, SE = 0.06, p < .001.

CONCLUSION:

Findings demonstrated the interdependence of family members and the impact of family in relapse prevention and partially supported SET's potential for maintaining family functioning and well-being for women living with HIV or AIDS in drug recovery.

DOI

10.1037/a0028672

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Peer Reviewed

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