HIV/AIDS disclosure decision-making and outcomes: A longitudinal, event-based analysis

To date, research examining the nature of HIV/AIDS disclosure has typically examined the global associations between frequency of disclosure and indices of well-being while focusing little attention on the outcomes of specific disclosure events. In the current work. I articulate a conceptual framework that can be used to guide empirical analyses of HIV/AIDS disclosure events and provide an initial test of this framework. The current research examines disclosure decision-making and outcome processes among a convenience sample of 234 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at two time points. Analyses provide initial evidence regarding the interrelations among three important components of the disclosure process---antecedent factors, disclosure positivity, and outcomes---and examine the relationships between discrete disclosure events and both long-term indices of well-being and subsequent disclosure events. Discussion centers on the potential utility of event-based conceptualizations of disclosure to clarify the causal relationships between disclosure and outcomes and identify domains for future intervention efforts.