Living with HIV: a social constructionist approach

摘要

The social construction of illness has become a major research perspective in the area of health psychology. Illness accordingly is viewed as an experience which has cultural and social influences. The present article uses this perspective and presents three major findings in the construction and experience of HIV/AIDS. The issue of HIV/AIDS cannot be studied solely within the medical paradigm with its deterministic approach to disease and illness. It also has behavioural, psychological, social and cultural dimensions which can be well understood through research conducted within the social constructionist approach.