A three-module intervention was designed to address the multiple needs of young persons living with HIV (YPLH): 1) Staying Healthy; 2) Act Safe; and 3) Being Together. YPLH from three cities were assigned by small cohort to either an Immediate Intervention Condition or a Control Condition. Building on the positive effects of the Staying Healthy and Act Safe Modules, this paper reports the effects of the Being Together Module, an eight-session cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at improving YPLH's quality of life. The YPLH (N=104) were aged 14 - 23 (M=21.03); 73% were male; most were Latino (43%) or African American (24%). YPLH in the Immediate Intervention Condition were significantly less emotionally distressed on multiple indices than those in the Control Condition, and those who attended the intervention showed decreasing emotional distress even when controlling for HIV symptomatology. HIV preventive interventions must promote emotional well-being, as well as reduce risk acts and promote health behaviors.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe an intervention to reduce substance use and sexual risk acts of HIV+ youth as well as improve their quality of life, 2. Identify the results of the intervention on the quality of life of HIV+ adolescents, 3. Define necessary factors in the development of successful interventions for HIV+ youth
Keywords: HIV Interventions, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.