Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Social Support and the Management of Uncertainty for People Living With HIV or Aids

Bibliographic Data

ID23385490
AuthorsDale E Brashers (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Judith L Neidig (The Ohio State University), Daena J Goldsmith (0000-0003-1466-0256, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
Year2004
Volume16
Issue3
Pages305-331
Publication date2004-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1041-0236 • E-ISSN: 1532-7027
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1207/s15327027hc1603_3
PMID15265753
OpenAlexW2089653002
LanguageEN
Citations received98
References cited53

People with chronic and acute illnesses experience uncertainty about their prognoses, potential treatments, social relationships, and identity concerns. In a focus group study of people living with HIV or AIDS, we examined how social support may facilitate or interfere with the management of uncertainty about health, identity, and relationships. We found that support from others helps people with HIV or AIDS to manage uncertainty by (a) assisting with information seeking and avoiding, (b) providing instrumental support, (c) facilitating skill development, (d) giving acceptance or validation, (e) allowing ventilation, and (f) encouraging perspective shifts. Respondents also reported a variety of ways in which supportive others interfered with uncertainty management or in which seeking support imposed costs. Problems associated with social support and uncertainty management included a lack of coordination in uncertainty management assistance, the addition of relational uncertainty to illness uncertainty, and the burden of others' uncertainty management. Our study reveals strategies respondents used to manage costs and complications of receiving support, including developing an active or self-advocating orientation, reframing supportive interactions, withdrawing from nonproductive social situations, selectively allowing others to be support persons, and maintaining boundaries.

Business · Cognitive reframing · Focus group · Identity (music) · Perspective (graphical) · Social support · Computer Science · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Homelessness and Social Issues · Marketing · Psychology · Social Psychology

  • When treatment hurts

    Open Access•Zhizhuang Duan, Hui Xie•AIDS Care•2026

  • Social support during stressful waiting periods

    Michael Dooley, Dulce Wilkinson et al.•Qualitative Psychology•2020

  • Contextual Health Information Behavior in the Daily Lives of People with Type 2 Diabetes

    Open Access•Marijke Broekhuis, Lex Van Velsen et al.•Health Communication•2022

  • Competing Discourses Surrounding Primary Caregivers of Hospice Patients

    Paul Kozar, Karishma Chatterjee•Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy•2014

  • Perceived social support from friends and family and psychosocial functioning in bisexual young adult college students.

    Raymond L Sheets, Jonathan J Mohr•Journal of Counseling Psychology•2009

  • Relational Uncertainty and Interpersonal Communication

    L K Knobloch•New Directions in Interpersonal…•2010

  • Communicating Social Support

    Open Access•Daena J Goldsmith•Communicating Social Support•2004

  • An Augmented Risk Information Seeking Model

    Lee Ann Kahlor•Media Psychology•2007

  • Communication Competence, Social Support, and Depression Among College Students

    Kevin B Wright, Jenny Rosenberg et al.•Journal of Health Communication•2013

  • Relational Uncertainty and Relational Information Processing

    Open Access•L K Knobloch, D H Solomon•Communication Research•2005

  • The positive outlook study- a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an online self-management program targeting psychosocial issues for men living with HIV

    Open Access•Tanya Millard, Julian Elliott et al.•BMC Public Health•2014

  • Using the multiphase optimization strategy (Most) to optimize an HIV care continuum intervention for vulnerable populations

    Open Access•Marya Gwadz, Marya Viorst Gwadz et al.•BMC Public Health•2017

  • It’s all about connection

    Open Access•Clara Tam, Tim Wesseling et al.•BMC Public Health•2023

  • Information and Relationship Functions of Communication between Pregnant Women and Their Health Care Providers

    Open Access•Amy L Delaney, Gabi N Singleton et al.•Communication Studies•2020

  • How different online self-presentations relate to life satisfaction differently in college students

    Open Access•Lumei Tian, Ruonan Zhai et al.•Current Psychology•2023

  • An Examination of Visually Impaired Individuals’ Uncertainty Management

    Lynsey Romo, Shana Mako et al.•Health Communication•2024

  • Being PAL

    Elizabeth D Dalton, Katie Gruber•Health Communication•2022

  • The Association Among Intolerance of Uncertainty, Health Information Retrieval on SNSs, and Health Anxiety

    Wenjing Ge, Xuqing Bai et al.•Health Communication•2025

  • Media Exposure and Health Behavior during Pandemics

    Jad Melki, Hani Tamim et al.•Health Communication•2022

  • Uncertainty Management in Online Sexual Health Forums

    E D Basinger, Amy L Delaney et al.•Health Communication•2023

  • Health Information Seeking as a Coping Strategy to Reduce Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Stress

    Nia F Mason, Diane B Francis et al.•Health Communication•2022

  • Health Disparities in Online Covid-19 Information Seeking and Protective Behaviors

    Qinghua Yang, Weidan Cao•Health Communication•2022

  • An Examination of How Individuals Manage Uncertainty Around Scoliosis

    Katelin A Mueller, Lynsey Romo•Health Communication•2025

  • An Examination of How People Appraise and Manage Health-Related Financial Uncertainty

    Lynsey Romo, C M Thompson et al.•Health Communication•2022

  • What Drives People Away from Covid-19 Information

    Yan Qu, Adam J Saffer et al.•Health Communication•2023

  • Medical Students’ Stress and Uncertainty During the Covid-19 Pandemic

    Anna M Kerr, Lauren D Spaeth et al.•Health Communication•2023

  • The Influence of Attributions, Emotions, and Sexual Health Knowledge on Support Provision to Friends with Sexual Health Uncertainties

    Tara G Mcmanus, Courtney Rilinger•Health Communication•2025

  • Clinical and Family Conversations Regarding Genetic Testing

    Heather E Canary, Brianne M Daly et al.•Health Communication•2026

  • The influence of agent and message type on perceptions of social support in human-machine communication

    Bryan Abendschein, Chad Edwards et al.•Communication Research Reports•2021

  • Fake news in a time of plague

    Open Access•Han Zheng, Xiaohui Wang et al.•Computers in Human Behavior•2023

  • Menopausal transition, uncertainty, and women’s identity construction

    Oluwadamilola Olabisi Opayemi•Communication Quarterly•2025

  • Perceived online social support for Parkinson’s disease patients

    Surin Chung, Eunjin Kim et al.•Communication Quarterly•2021

  • Providing support to friends experiencing a sexual health uncertainty

    Tara G Mcmanus•Journal of Applied Communication…•2020

  • Uncertainty and support-seeking in US-based online diabetes forums

    Amy L Delaney, E D Basinger•Journal of Applied Communication…•2021

  • ‘Everybody Else in That Room’

    Natalie Hoskins•Journal of Applied Communication…•2024

  • There are support resources, but they are kind of hidden”

    Open Access•Ekaterina Malova•Frontiers in Human Dynamics•2024

  • You Never Know What’s Gonna Happen”

    Open Access•Lynsey Romo, Christine Davis et al.•Communication & Sport•2014

  • After coming out

    Open Access•Apoorva Ghosh•Sociology Compass•2019

  • Adult Stepchildren’s Uncertainty Management in Later Life Stepfamilies

    Sylvia L Mikucki-Enyart, Ashley M Peterson•Journal of Family Communication•2022

  • Returning to Normal in an Abnormal Environment

    Kimberly Walker, Kimberly K Walker et al.•Journal of Family Communication•2022

  • Differential media exposure and perceptions of fear and behavior change in China and Israel during the Covid-19 pandemic

    Open Access•Gustavo S Mesch, Xuejing Liu et al.•New Media & Society•2023

  • Consumers’ avoidance of information on red meat risks

    Rui Gaspar, Sílvia Luís et al.•Journal of Risk Research•2015

  • Weak-Tie Support Network Preference and Perceived Life Stress Among Participants in Health-Related, Computer-Mediated Support Groups

    Open Access•Kevin B Wright, Steve Rains et al.•Journal of Computer-Mediated…•2010

  • The influence of online social support on health self‐management among gay men living with HIV in China

    Open Access•Yu Guo, Yu Zheng et al.•Journal of Community & Applied…•2024

  • Interpersonal influences on self‐management in the eHealth era

    Open Access•Mengru Sun, L Crystal Jiang•Health & Social Care in the…•2020

  • An Examination of Support (In)Adequacy

    Andrew C High, Keli Ryan Steuber•Communication Monographs•2014

  • A Measure of Weak-Tie/Strong-Tie Support Network Preference

    Kevin B Wright, Claude H Miller•Communication Monographs•2010

  • Uncertainty management, transformational leadership, and job performance in an AI-powered organizational context

    Masaki Matsunaga•Communication Monographs•2021

  • An Experimental Test of Medical Disclosure and Consent Documentation

    Erin E Donovan, Brittani Crook et al.•Communication Monographs•2014

  • A longitudinal investigation of information and support seeking processes that alter the uncertainty experiences of mental illness

    Kai Kuang, Ningxin Wang•Communication Monographs•2022

  • Issue Forum

    Dale Hample•Communication Monographs•2008

  • Being Open without Talking about It

    John P Caughlin, Sylvia L Mikucki-Enyart et al.•Communication Monographs•2011

  • Coping, surviving, or thriving

    Open Access•Danni Liao, Manuel D Pulido et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2024

  • Evaluation of Patient Needs and Patient Navigator Communication About Cervical Cancer Prevention in Appalachian Kentucky

    Open Access•Elisia L Cohen, Allison M Scott et al.•Journal of Communication•2013

  • The Moderating Role of Social Support on the Relationship Between Anxiety, Stigma, and Intention to Use Illicit Drugs Among HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men

    Open Access•Phoenix K H Mo, Xi Chen et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2019

  • A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the NIH Emotions Toolbox Among People Living with HIV and Who May Use Methamphetamine

    Open Access•Alexis A Bender, David J Moore et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2024

  • The Role of Emotional Avoidance, the Patient–Provider Relationship, and Other Social Support in ART Adherence for HIV+ Individuals

    Open Access•Christopher R Berghoff, Kim L Gratz et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2017

  • The Impact of Social Capital on HIV-related Actions as Mediated by Personal and Proxy Efficacies in Namibia

    Open Access•Rachel A Smith, R N Rimal•AIDS and Behavior•2008

  • The Positive Outlook Study

    Open Access•Tanya Millard, Paul A Agius et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2016

  • Navigating higher education with chronic illness

    Open Access•Ekaterina Malova•International Journal of…•2025

  • A qualitative evidence synthesis of normative rhetorical theory scholarship

    Patricia E Gettings, Skye Chernichky‐karcher et al.•Annals of the International…•2021

  • Prism

    Lee Ann Kahlor, Leeann Kahlor•Health Communication•2010

  • How U.S. college athletes manage Covid-19 related uncertainty

    Lynsey Romo, Jenna S Abetz•Qualitative Research in Sport and…•2023

  • Predicting Adjustment to Divorce from Social Support and Relational Quality in Multiple Relationships

    Sarah E Wilder•Journal of Divorce & Remarriage•2016

  • A meta-analysis of disclosure of one's HIV-positive status, stigma and social support

    Rachel Smith, Kelly Rossetto et al.•AIDS Care•2008

  • Testing theoretical network classes and HIV-related correlates with latent class analysis

    Rachel A Smith, Stephanie T Lanza•AIDS Care•2011

  • Does scientific uncertainty alter public perception of HIV-cure science? A message experiment with U.S. adults

    Stefan Gorißen, Yi Liao et al.•AIDS Care•2025

  • Social support exchanges in a social media community for people living with HIV/Aids in China

    Liang Chen, Jingyuan Shi•AIDS Care•2015

  • Psychosocial and structural factors and changes in quality of life measures among people living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada

    Julia Clark, Tian Shen et al.•AIDS Care•2026

  • Variation in Networks and Forms of Support for Care‐Seeking Across the HIV Care Continuum in the Rural Southeastern United States

    Open Access•Miranda Hill, Amber Huff et al.•The Journal of Rural Health•2018

  • Longitudinal Effect of Perceived Family Support on Marital Adjustment Moderated by Stepfamily Type

    Open Access•Carina Santos, Maria E Costa et al.•Journal of Family Issues•2026

  • Digital divides in verification

    Dechuan Liu, Yuhang Yuan•Asian Journal of Communication•2026

  • The Shifting Landscape of Health Care

    Mallory O Johnson•American Journal of Public Health•2011

  • The Message Design Logics of Responses to HIV Disclosures

    Open Access•John P Caughlin, Dale E Brashers et al.•Human Communication Research•2008

  • Promoting Covid-19 Vaccination

    Open Access•Yan Huang, Wenlin Liu•Science Communication•2022

  • Person, Place, or Thing

    Open Access•Wan Wang, Lee Ann Kahlor et al.•Science Communication•2021

  • Seeking and Processing Information about Impersonal Risk

    Open Access•Lee Ann Kahlor, Leeann Kahlor et al.•Science Communication•2006

  • Gay, Straight, and Who I Am

    Nathan D Shippee•Deviant Behavior•2011

  • Reframing HIV Stigma and Fear

    Open Access•Caitlyn D Placek, Holly Nishimura et al.•Human Nature•2019

  • Adolescent Females and Their Mothers

    Open Access•Julie E Volkman, Kami J Silk•Journal of Health Psychology•2008

  • Perceived barriers and facilitators to HIV testing in South African communities

    Open Access•Henri De Wet, Ashraf Kagee•Journal of Health Psychology•2018

  • Aligned and Divergent Perceptions of Support Persons' Role in Triadic Gynecologic Cancer Communication

    Open Access•Lauren E Lee, Kathryn Greene et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2022

  • Uncertainty of Social Network Members in the Case of Communication-Debilitating Illness or Injury

    Open Access•Erin Donovan-Kicken, Jennifer J Bute•Qualitative Health Research•2008

  • Sources of the Uncertainty Experienced by Women With HPV

    Open Access•Kami A Kosenko, Ryan J Hurley et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2012

  • Medical, Personal, and Social Forms of Uncertainty Across the Transplantation Trajectory

    Open Access•Summer Carnett Martins, Summer Carnett Martin et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2010

  • Perceptions About Organ Donation Among African American, Hispanic, and White High School Students

    Open Access•Brian L Quick, Nicole R Lavoie et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2012

  • Disclosure Decisions

    Open Access•Lotte Rodkjaer, Lotte Ørneborg Rodkjær et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2011

  • Shared Illness and Social Support Within Two HIV-Affected African American Communities

    Open Access•Katie E Mosack, Patricia E Stevens et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2016

  • Managing Uncertainty for and With Family

    Open Access•Gemme Campbell-Salome, Joshua B Barbour•Qualitative Health Research•2022

  • Uncertainty Management Strategies in Communication About Urinary Tract Infections

    Open Access•Alaina Leverenz, R Aída Hernández•Qualitative Health Research•2023

  • Perceptions of Supportive Behavior by Young Adults With Bipolar Disorder

    Open Access•Eileen F Doherty, Eileen Doherty et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2013

  • Information seeking during "bad news" oncology interactions

    Open Access•Susan Eggly, Louis A Penner et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2006

  • Can Messages Make a Difference? The Association Between E-Mail Messages and Health Outcomes in Diabetes Patients

    Open Access•Jeanine Warisse Turner, James D Robinson et al.•Human Communication Research•2013

  • Computer-mediated communication (CMC) and social support

    Open Access•A Rain, Stephen A Rain et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2017

  • Coping with uncertainty in mental illness

    Open Access•Kai Kuang, Ningxin Wang•Journal of Social and Personal…•2023

  • Male same-sex couple dynamics and received social support for HIV medication adherence

    Open Access•Judith Wrubel, Scott Stumbo et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2010

  • Challenges in conceptualizing social support

    Open Access•Anita L Vangelisti•Journal of Social and Personal…•2009

  • When families fail

    Open Access•E Moyer, Emmy Kageha Igonya•Anthropology and Medicine•2014

  • The Many Meanings of Uncertainty in Illness

    Austin S Babrow, Chris R Kasch et al.•Health Communication•1998

  • Social Support and the Cancer Patient

    Open Access•Camille B Wortman•Cancer•1984

  • Uncertainty in Illness

    Open Access•Merle H Mishel•Image: the Journal of Nursing…•1988

  • Stress

    Susan Folkman•Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine•2013

  • Managing Conflicting Goals in Supportive Interaction

    Open Access•Daena J Goldsmith, DAENA GOLDSMITH•Communication Research•1992

  • Reconceptualization of the Uncertainty in Illness Theory

    Open Access•Merle H Mishel•Image: the Journal of Nursing…•1990

  • Information Seeking and Avoiding in Health Contexts

    Open Access•Dale E Brashers, Daena J Goldsmith et al.•Human Communication Research•2002

  • A Normative Approach to the Study of Uncertainty and Communication

    Open Access•Daena J Goldsmith•Journal of Communication•2001

  • Communication and Uncertainty Management

    Open Access•Dale E Brashers•Journal of Communication•2001

  • 'In an important way, I did die'

    Dale E Brashers, Judith L Neidig et al.•AIDS Care•1999

  • Identifying helpful and unhelpful behaviours of loved ones

    Richard Hays, R B Hays et al.•AIDS Care•1994

  • Social support and unsupportive social interactions

    Kathleen M Ingram, David A Jones et al.•AIDS Care•1999

  • Progression to Aids

    Jane Leserman, Eric D Jackson et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•1999

  • Changes in Cognitive Coping Skills and Social Support During Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Intervention and Distress Outcomes in Symptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Seropositive Gay Men

    Susan K Lutgendorf, Michael H Antoni et al.•Psychosomatic Medicine•1998

  • Collective Aids activism and individuals' perceived self-advocacy in physician-patient communication

    Open Access•E Brashers, M Haas et al.•Human Communication Research•2000

  • Information Seeking and Avoiding in Health Contexts

    Open Access•Dale E Brashers•Human Communication Research•2002

  • Soliciting advice

    Daena J Goldsmith•Communication Monographs•2000

  • The logic of message design

    Barbara J O’keefe, Barbara J O'Keefe•Communication Monographs•1988

  • Social support messages and the management of uncertainty in the experience of breast cancer

    Leigh Arden Ford, Austin S Babrow et al.•Communication Monographs•1996

  • Illness‐Related Support and Negative Network Interactions

    Open Access•Karolynn Siegel, Victoria H Raveis et al.•American Journal of Community…•1997

  • Coping, Conflictual Social Interactions, Social Support, and Mood Among HIV‐Infected Persons

    Open Access•John A Fleishman, Cathy Donald Sherbourne et al.•American Journal of Community…•2000

  • The multidimensional nature of received social support in gay men at risk of HIV infection and Aids

    Open Access•Ralf Schwarzer, Christine Dunkel-Schetter et al.•American Journal of Community…•1994

  • Quality of life among women living with HIV

    Open Access•Andrea C Gielen, Karen A Mcdonnell et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2001

  • From "reducing" to "coping with" uncertainty

    Open Access•Austin S Babrow, Kimberly N Kline•Social Science & Medicine•2000

  • Social networks, social support and coping with serious illness

    Open Access•Kathleen Ell•Social Science & Medicine•1996

  • Stigma, HIV and Aids

    Open Access•Angelo A Alonzo, Nancy R Reynolds et al.•Social Science & Medicine•1995

  • Perceiving benefits in adversity

    Open Access•Karolynn Siegel, Eric W Schrimshaw•Social Science & Medicine•2000

  • Psychological well-being of gay men with Aids

    Open Access•Karolynn Siegel, Victoria H Raveis et al.•Social Science & Medicine•1994

  • Social Support as Relationship Maintenance in Gay Male Couples Coping with Hiv or Aids

    Open Access•Stephen M Haa, Stephen M Haas•Journal of Social and Personal…•2002

  • Social Activism, Self-Advocacy, and Coping with Hiv Illness

    Open Access•Dale E Brashers, Stephen M Haa et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2002

  • Coping as a Communal Process

    Open Access•Renee F Lyons, Richard Lyons et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•1998

  • Determinants of Social Support Among Gay Men

    Heather A Turner, Robert B Hays et al.•Journal of Health and Social…•1993

  • Uncertainty and the Lives of Persons with Aids

    Rose Weitz•Journal of Health and Social…•1989

  • Living with HIV Infection

    Karolynn Siegel, Beatrice J Krau et al.•Journal of Health and Social…•1991

  • The Normative Context of Advice as Social Support

    Open Access•Daena J Goldsmith, Kristine L Fitch et al.•Human Communication Research•1997

  • The Structure of Communication

    Open Access•G A Barnett, James A Danowski•Human Communication Research•1992

Unique citing works98
Citations per year4,45
Citation span2004 - 2026 (23)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 93
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae