Negative mental health factors in children orphaned by AIDS: natural mentoring as a palliative care

AIDS Behav. 2009 Oct;13(5):980-8. doi: 10.1007/s10461-008-9459-0. Epub 2008 Oct 7.

Abstract

The study examined the psychosocial mental health of some children whose parents died of AIDS (n = 373) in Uganda and South Africa. The design had 2 control groups: other-causes orphaned (n = 287), and non-orphaned (n = 290) children (grand mean age = 13.59, SD = 2.34). We utilized a battery of standardized psychosocial measures to estimate mental health in the groups. Natural mentoring relationship was estimated with the Ragins and McFarlin (J Vocat Behav 37:321-339, 1990) Mentor Role Instrument. Results indicated that AIDS-orphaned children showed highest negative, and lowest positive mental health factors in the 3 groups. Children in a mentoring relationship showed better mental health factors than those without a mentor. We ascribed the AIDS-orphaned children's highest negative mental health condition to the incidence of higher double parental loss in the group, and suggested natural mentorship as a palliative care against negative mental health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Bereavement
  • Child
  • Child, Orphaned / psychology*
  • Female
  • Foster Home Care / psychology*
  • Foster Home Care / statistics & numerical data
  • HIV Infections / mortality*
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Mentors / psychology*
  • Palliative Care / methods
  • Palliative Care / psychology*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Social Support
  • South Africa
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Uganda