Purpose: To understand through explorations of the experiences of HIV positive individuals whether these individuals experience stigma in relation to HIV/AIDS and how it has impacted their lives and that of their families. Design: Qualitative study used ethnographic techniques (interviews, questionnaires, informal conversations, observation, field notes) to collect data over a four-month period. Setting: Data was collected from nine districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the state of Kerala, India. Participants: Shared their perspectives on HIV related stigma (n=49 total). Of the 38 participants interviewed, 12 were HIV positives, 19 were HIV positives who also worked or volunteered with HIV positive networks (known as positive speakers), 2 were caregivers of HIV positives, and 5 were key informants involved with community organizations providing services to HIV positives. Informal conversations with 11 unaffected were also utilized. Findings were organized into four themes. (1) Anti-stigma/prevention strategies such as positive living and positive speaking offered positive speakers unique challenges and opportunities as they were called upon to be the face and voice of HIV (2) Contrary to expectations that formal education which also included awareness about HIV could increase one’s knowledge and subsequently dispel ignorance and stigma, the findings pointed out how knowledge itself is a resource that allowed stigma to unfold along existing social hierarchies. (3) Unconscious prejudices about physical appearances influenced perceptions of HIV risk, and a stigmatized identity waxed and waned with a change in physical appearance as the HIV positive oscillated between illness and health. (4) “Immoral behaviour” as the cause of HIV infection entered into family/caregiver decisions regarding the use of family resources for the treatment and care of the HIV positive member. Gender and social class also impinged on family decisions in numerous ways. Conclusions: This research project has highlighted the need to develop a more nuanced understanding of HIV related stigma that extends beyond the current conceptualization of stigma as “ignorance” or lack of awareness about modes of HIV transmission. Refining current understandings of HIV related stigma could guide research, policy, and practice.

Uppsatsen belyser hur det är att som kvinna leva med ADHD då detta är ett relativt outforskat område Syftet med den här studien är att ta reda på hur det är att som kvinna leva med ADHD, hur vardagslivet påverkas samt hur fördomar upplevs och hanteras. Vi vill även ha reda på hur kvinnorna upplever att de hanterar sina känslor samt hur deras känslohantering tar sig i uttryck i deras vardagsliv. Vi har utfört kvalitativa intervjuer med åtta kvinnor som alla fått sin diagnos i vuxen ålder. Kvinnorna har med egna ord berättat hur de upplever att det som kvinna är att leva med ADHD. Det insamlade datamaterialet analyseras med hjälp av Erving Goffman’s stigma-teori som förklarar hur olika attribut hos individen kan göra att denne avviker från mängden. Även Arlie Hochschild’s teori om emotioner som beskriver hur individen hanterar känslor används i denna studie. Resultatet i denna studie visar att vardagslivet påverkas ur en rad olika aspekter för kvinnorna i vår studie. Ett dilemma som fanns hos majoriteten av informanterna var huruvida de skulle berätta om sin diagnos eller inte i rädsla om att bli bemött av fördomar om de berättade. Majoriteten av informanterna upplevde att det fanns fördomar mot ADHD vilket var en anledning till att flertalet av kvinnorna valde att inte berätta för andra om sin ADHD. Endast ett fåtal av informanterna var väldigt öppna med att berätta om sin diagnos då de ville skapa en ökad förståelse för fenomenet ADHD och ville därmed motbevisa de fördomar finns. Flertalet av kvinnorna upplevde att de hade lätt till att känna känslor och beskrev sina känsloliv i liknelse med en berg-och-dalbana som påverkade vardagslivet i högsta grad.

Thesis (Ph.D.) in Psychology--University of Maine, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-101).

Thesis (M.S.)--Villanova University, 2008. / Psychology Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-105). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Alberta, 2009. / "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in Measurement, Evaluation and Cognition, Educational Psychology, University of Alberta. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on September 9, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2005. / Thesis advisor: Carolyn R. Fallahi. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts [in Psychology]." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-59). Also available via the World Wide Web.

No description available.

Magister Artium - MA / This study is a descriptive study and describes the effects of religious beliefs and stigma toward people living with HIV/AIDS. The religions looked at were Islam, Christianity and Hinduism and it was conducted in the community of Cravenby, situated in Cape Town. Its objectives were to investigate; how religion affected people’s attitudes to HIV/AIDS within Cravenby; to investigate how religious beliefs may lead to stigma; does religion allow an individual to disclose his or her HIV status if they are HIV positive; how religion may affect one’s sexual behaviour and how much is known about HIV by people living in Cravenby. The study employed qualitative research methods and the method of data collection was implemented through the use of in depth interviews with community residents. Content analysis was used to analyse the data, with findings showing that those living with HIV/AIDS deserved to be treated with respect and empathy. Respondent's knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS was very good and showed that few people have not heard about HIV/AIDS. Stigma is defined as an attribute that is significantly discrediting and is used to set an affected person or group apart from a normalized social order and the use of such separation implies devaluation. Religiously based stigma towards those living with HIV/AIDS arose from people’s personal beliefs and justification because they did not adhere to religious teachings and injunctions. Respondents saw religion as serving to promote cleanliness, marital harmony and respecting one's self and towards others. Biographical disruption implies that a person’s stock of knowledge of their selves and social world are disrupted by the experience of illness and suggests that explanatory frameworks normally used to understand daily life are disrupted. The study recommends having a joint forum which is attended by Muslims, Christians and Hindus discussing HIV/AIDS would help to address incorrect and or incomplete knowledge and beliefs around HIV/AIDS in the community.

Bakgrund: Psykisk störning är ett ökande hälsoproblem i dagens samhälle och på grund av det kommer det även bli en allt vanligare inslag på somatiska vårdavdelningar. Detta borde inte ha någon påverkan på vården men en ökad dödlighet i behandlingsbara sjukdomar har identifierats hos personer med psykisk störning. Syfte: Belysa sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att vårda personer med psykisk störning som vårdas på somatiska vårdavdelningar. Metod: Systematisk litteraturstudie av nio artiklar från Cinahl, PubMed samt PsycINFO, analyserade utifrån manifest innehållsanalys. Resultat: Resultatet visade på tre huvudkategorier: svårt att möta deras nyckfullhet, där de bland annat ansågs vara våldsamma, och motvilja att vårda till följd av okunnighet, där det framkom en kunskapsbrist i att vårda personer med psykisk störning, samt vårdmiljön möter inte patienternas behov och hur det påverkar vårdandet av personer med psykisk störning. Slutsats: För att minska på stigmatiseringen av personer med psykisk störning framkom det att en ökad kunskap hos sjuksköterskor om psykiska störningar inom somatisk vård kan bidra till en alla får lika vård.