Spirituality and Coping Mechanisms in HIV/AIDS Populations
Summary
Spirituality encompasses a broad set of beliefs, practices and experiences through which individuals seek meaning, connection and transcendence. In the context of HIV/AIDS, spiritual frameworks and religious traditions often serve as vital resources for managing the emotional, social and physical challenges of living with a chronic, potentially stigmatising condition. Spiritual coping mechanisms may include prayer, meditation, ritual attendance, expressions of gratitude and engagement with faith communities. These practices can bolster resilience by fostering a sense of hope, purpose and self-transcendence, mitigating anxiety and depression, and promoting adherence to antiretroviral therapy. At the community level, structured support groups and faith-based organisations frequently provide safe spaces for sharing experiences, exchanging practical advice and reducing isolation. Across diverse cultural settings, spirituality interacts with socio-ecological factors such as stigma, discrimination and access to care, shaping both individual wellbeing and health outcomes. Integrative models emphasise that spiritual coping works in tandem with psychological, social and biomedical strategies to improve quality of life and long-term adjustment among people living with HIV/AIDS.
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Spirituality and Coping Mechanisms in HIV/AIDS Populations publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in spirituality and coping mechanisms in hiv/aids populations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Spiritual coping: The use of spiritual beliefs and practices (e.g. prayer, meditation) to manage stress and promote wellbeing.
Religious coping (RCOPE): A structured scale distinguishing positive (e.g. seeking spiritual support) from negative (e.g. spiritual discontent) coping strategies.
Psychoneuroimmunology: The study of interactions between psychological processes, the nervous system and immune function.
Meaning-making: The cognitive and emotional process of constructing or reconstructing life narratives to derive purpose from challenging experiences.
Resilience: The capacity to adapt and recover in the face of adversity, maintaining psychological and social functioning.
References
- Spirituality/Religiosity: A Cultural and Psychological Resource among Sub-Saharan African Migrant Women with HIV/AIDS in Belgium. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Religious coping strategies for people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) Muslims in Indonesia: A qualitative study with a telling-the-stories. Heliyon (2022).
- Spirituality and Dignity of Thai Adolescents Living with HIV. Religions (2017).
- Development of structured support groups for HIV-positive women in South Africa. SAHARA-J Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS (2005).
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