Expanding understanding of HIV/AIDS and employment: Perspectives of focus groups

The employment-related issues and concerns of 46 individuals with HIV/AIDS diagnoses were explored using grounded theory methods. Participants, who ranged in age from 22 to 58 years, represented diverse ethnic backgrounds reflective of the emerging demographics of HIV and were at various stages of the employment process. The key categories that emerged from the data fell into 3 main areas: (a) impact of HIV/AIDS, (b) motivation to work, and (c) barriers to employment. The data analysis led to the expansion of the 5-construct, 6-process ecological model (Szymanski & Hershenson, 1998) by placing greater emphasis on the role of mediating factors in understanding the employment-related issues and concerns of people with HIV and in expanding the interpretation of the developmental process as it relates to emergent disability. Use of an ecological approach to rehabilitation planning is recommended.