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Tromble-Hoke SM, Langkamp-Henken B, Reid K, Hoffinger R, Uphold CR. Severe stress events and use of stress-management behaviors are associated with nutrition-related parameters in men with HIV/AIDS. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2005 Oct 1; 105(10):1541-8; quiz 1550.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether severe stress events and more frequent use of stress-management behaviors among men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are associated with more desirable nutrition-related parameters. DESIGN: Data on sociodemographic variables, severe stress events, stress management, and nutrition-related parameters were obtained from interviews, venipunctures, medical record reviews, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and questionnaires from the baseline wave of a three-wave longitudinal study. SUBJECTS/SETTING: The sample consisted of 226 men with HIV who were attending one of three infectious disease clinics. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to determine the association of severe stress events and mean stress-management subscore with nutrition-related parameters when controlling for CD4(+) T cells, age, income, and race. RESULTS: Men with more severe stress events were more likely to experience nausea (odds ratio = 1.4, P < .01) and change in appearance (odds ratio = 1.25, P = .02). Men who more frequently used stress-management behaviors had a lower body mass index (beta = -1.14, P = .02), lower percent body fat (beta = -1.12, P = .05), more frequent use of nutritional-health promoting behaviors (beta = .52, P < .01), and were less likely to experience a change in appearance (odds ratio = 0.63, P = .05) and have unintentional weight loss (odds ratio = 0.54, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Men with more severe stress events are more likely to experience undesirable symptoms that could adversely influence nutritional health. More frequent use of stress-management behaviors may provide a coping mechanism for stress associated with HIV and ultimately improve nutritional health of men with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.