Perceived social support among people living with HIV/aids

The relationship between social support and the welfare of the recipient of support has been well documented in the clinical and research literature; however, HIV-positive individuals have seldom been examined in this context. This study attempted to bridge this gap by examining the perceived availability of social support of 77 persons living with HIV/AIDS. No statistically significant differences were found between the perception of support provided by friends or family members. Implications for therapists and directions for future researchers are suggested.