| Nearly 3.1 million individuals have died of AIDS as of December 2002 and more than 38.6 million individuals were identified as being infected with HIV (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization (WHO) 2002). Psychoneuroimmunology is a discipline that increases our understanding of the relationships between psychosocial factors, the central nervous system, the immune system, and disease. From this perspective, this study reviews the biopsychosocial medical model and components of the stress-immunity-health (SIH) model. The constructs of stress and social support are discussed and defined referencing current theory and research. In addition, physiological mechanisms of stress and the immune system are discussed to provide the foundations of the SIH model. This study specifically examines six types of perceived social support as buffers of three types stress and their effects on immune functioning in the progression of HIV to AIDS. The sample consisted of 97 males diagnosed with HIV/AIDS receiving comprehensive care at a center for immunology. In general, results indicated that the sample perceived higher than average levels of social support, average levels of stress, and exhibited compromised immune functioning. Applications to the SIH model can be understood in relation to these positive social indicators. |
