Evaluación psicológica y situación sociofamiliar de una población infanto-juvenil afectada por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana

Abstract

Researchers have found the presence of psychopathology in children affected by HIV in various contexts, but at a very different prevalence. The aim of this study is to compare this previous research to an HIV-positive child population by examining their personal and family circumstances and exploring various aspects of their intelligence, socialization, sychopathology, competences, adaptation and caregiver variables. The empirical group is composed of 23 participants from 7 to 16 years of age and they, their families and their teachers have completed the following tests: WISC-IV, BAS-1, BAS-2, BAS-3, CBCL/6-18, CTRF/6-18, YSR/11-18, TAMAI and CUIDA. The comparison group is composed of 46 healthy participants matched by sex and age. Both groups show normalized scores in socialization, psychopathology, adaptation and caregiver variables, although the frequency of problems for the HIV group is higher. The HIV group obtained clinical scores in all the variables of intelligence and in some variables of competence. There are significant differences in all variables of intelligence (p < .01) and competence (p < .01; except for Social Competence in the YSR, with p < .05). There are also significant differences in Leadership (p < .05), Apathy-Withdrawal (p < .01), Anxiety-Shyness (p < .01) and Socialization in general (p < .01) in the BAS-2 and in Leadership (p < .05), Joviality (p < .01), Social Sensitivity (p <.05), Apathy-Withdrawal (p < .05) and Socialization in general (p < .01) in the BAS-1. There are also significant differences in Anxiety-Depression (p < .01), Withdrawal (p < .01) , Social Problems (p <.01), Somatic complaints (p < .01) , Attentional Problems (p < .01), Rule-Breaking (p < .05) Internalizing Disorders (p < .01) , Externalizing Disorders (p < .05) and General Disorders (p < .01) in the CBCL, in Withdrawal (p < .05) , Social Problems (p < .01), Somatic complaints (p < .05) , Cognitive Problems (p < .05) , Attentional Problems (p < .01), Internalizing Disorders (p < .05) , Externalizing Disorders (p < .05) and General Disorders (p < .01) in the CTRF and in Withdrawal (p < .05) in the YSR. There are also significant differences in adaptation, showing differences in General, Personal and Social Inadaptation (p < .01) and in Insatisfaction with Family, Brothers and Sisters and Education of the Mother (p < .05) in the TAMAI. There are some significant differences in Problem Solving Skills (p < .05) and in the Ability to Resolve Bereavement (p < .05) of caregivers in the CUIDA questionnaire. In all of these cases that reported differences (excepting Insatisfaction with Brothers and Sisters), the empirical group obtained scores closer to clinical levels than the comparison group. There are also some significant differences inside the HIV group depending on the variables: AIDS, Grade Repetition, Sex and Adoption. The pediatric population with HIV proves to be a group more vulnerable to socialization problems, showing clinical levels of intelligence and competence.