PECULIARITIES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN

Abstract

The relevance of the problem is due to the rapid increase in the need to develop comprehensive models of psychological support for adolescents living with HIV under the conditions of modern transformation of healthcare and social support. The purpose of this article is to theoretically substantiate the leading directions of psychological support for HIV-positive adolescents aged 13-17 based on empirical findings on their psycho-emotional state. The study was conducted at the HIV/AIDS Center of the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital (Kyiv) among 30 adolescents under medical supervision who were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Research methods included a comprehensive diagnostic toolkit: the SAM technique (state of health, activity, mood), Luscher’s color test for determining emotional tension and psychological adaptation, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The combined use of these methods made it possible to establish that 66.7% of respondents had clinically significant depressive symptoms and to determine the leading directions of psychological support. The psycho-emotional sphere of HIV-positive adolescents is characterized by a high level of anxiety, emotional tension, a tendency to social isolation, and depressive experiences caused by stigmatization and the need for long-term treatment. The model of three-component psychological support (cognitive-behavioral, emotional-stabilization, and social-adaptive blocks) is substantiated; based on preliminary findings, its implementation is associated with improved psycho-emotional well-being, reduced depressive symptoms, increased adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and successful social integration of adolescents.