Hope and Nutritional Status in Relation to Psychosocial Distress among HIV/AIDS Orphans

By : Shikha Verma, Swaran Lata

Page No: 315-324

Abstract
The present study assessed the group and gender difference in psychosocial distress, hope and nutritional status among HIV/AIDS orphans and non-HIV/AIDS orphans. The sample of the study consisted of 116 HIV/AIDS orphans (mean age 11.98 years) and 120 non-HIV/AIDS orphans (mean age 12.65 years) from north Indian orphanages. The tools employed for present study were psychosocial distress scale for children, hope scale for children and CDC BMI standard to measure nutritional status. ANOVA result indicates that significant group difference was found in psychosocial distress and nutritional status. Significant gender difference was found in psychosocial distress, hope and nutritional status. Psychosocial distress was significantly negatively related with hope in HIV/AIDS orphans and non-HIV/ AIDS orphans. Strong perception of support from cares, siblings, school teachers, school principal, friends, and others may help to reduce the deleterious effects of psychological problems due to illness, and enhance hope and nutritional status among HIV/AIDS orphans.

Authors :
Shikha Verma : Research scholar, Psychology Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, U.P., India.
Swaran Lata : Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, U.P., India.