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Double Whammy: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Older African Americans Experiencing HIV & Age Related Comorbidities

Chavers, James Wesley, Jr
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5243-4503
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1496320807868244

Abstract Details

2017, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology.
HIV among older African Americans represents one of the fastest and largest growing populations of infected groups in America (CDC, 2008). With the availability of anti-retrovirals (ARV), or AIDS cocktail drugs, HIV has become a chronic illness. As African Americans are living longer with HIV, they are encountering the diseases that are consonant with aging. The effect of aging with HIV and an age-related comorbid condition can be physically and emotionally debilitating. Many of these older adults are also dealing with poverty, stigma, poor healthcare access, and limited social support. The purpose of this study was to explore how these older African Americans make sense of their experience of living with HIV and an age-related comorbidity, through semi-structured interviews. Using a form of qualitative analysis called interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this researcher located three superordinate themes or principal areas of concern to older HIV-positive African American adults’ understanding of their lived experiences with HIV and age-related co-morbid conditions: “HIV as the new normal,” “HIV spurs self-advocacy,” and “health as a fragile construct.” The results suggest that while older African Americans’ current experiences of HIV may be less daunting, their experiences of co-morbid conditions are more acute and severe, and combined with HIV, have left them more vulnerable and in need of support. The electronic version of the dissertation is accessible at the Ohiolink ETD center http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd
Dan Schwartz, PhD (Committee Chair)
Steven Kadin, PhD (Committee Member)
Charles Hilliard, PhD (Other)
132 p.
African Americans; Black Studies; Clinical Psychology; Mental Health
African American; Black; HIV; comorbidities; co-morbid conditions; AIDS; older; older adult

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chavers, Jr, J. W. (2017). Double Whammy: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Older African Americans Experiencing HIV & Age Related Comorbidities [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1496320807868244

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chavers, Jr, James. Double Whammy: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Older African Americans Experiencing HIV & Age Related Comorbidities. 2017. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1496320807868244.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chavers, Jr, James. "Double Whammy: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of Older African Americans Experiencing HIV & Age Related Comorbidities." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1496320807868244

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1496320807868244
685
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.