Partner Abuse and HIV Infection: Implications for Psychosocial Adjustment in African American Women

A prospective study of the effects of partner abuse among HIV-infected & noninfected African American women revealed that there were both concurrent & longitudinal effects of abuse on several indices of psychosocial adjustment. Specifically, higher levels of both verbal & physical abuse were found among the HIV-infected group. In addition, the effects of abuse on suicidal ideation were significantly stronger among the HIV-infected group than among noninfected counterparts, resulting in significant HIV status by partner abuse interactions. (48 refs)