Identifying spiritual markers in African American HIV positive women

ABSTRACTThis article contributes new information to the literature on the role of spirituality in the lives of HIV positive African American women. Spirituality has been found to have a direct relationship with cognitive and social functioning and inversely related to HIV symptoms among African American women. This study uses secondary data analysis on interview data previously collected to assess the lived experiences of HIV positive African American women to identify, define, and describe the role of spirituality in coping among this population. Transcripts were coded by reading the transcripts and highlighting all text that on first impression appear to represent an expression or experience of spiritual or social support. Core elements of the interviews revealed God as an attachment figure, faith in God as a coping resource, and family as a support network, above church attendance for many of the participants.