Longitudinal psychosocial adjustment of women to human papillomavirus infection.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the psychosocial adjustment trajectory, focusing on psychological distress, sexual relationships and healthcare information, and factors which have an impact on adjustment on receiving a positive diagnosis of human papillomavirus infection.

Background: Human papillomavirus is a common sexually transmitted infection in females. To date, knowledge of the longitudinal psychosocial response to the diagnosis of human papillomavirus is limited.

Design: A prospective longitudinal design was conducted with a convenience sample.

Methods: Women aged 20-65 years old were followed at one, 6 and 12 months after a diagnosis of HPV. Participants completed measures of initial emotional distress and followed up psychosocial adjustment. A mixed-effects model was applied to analyse the longitudinal changes in psychosocial adjustment.

Results: Seventy human papillomavirus positive women participated in the study with nearly 20% of the women reporting emotional distress during their first visit. Mixed-effects model analyses showed that a trajectory of psychosocial adjustment in healthcare orientation, sexual relationship and psychosocial distress occur from one to 6 months after HPV diagnosis. However, a declining trend from 6 to 12 months was significant in healthcare orientation. Initial emotional distress was associated with changes in psychological adjustment.

Conclusions: Psychosocial adjustment to human papillomavirus was worse at 1 month compared with 6 and 12 months after diagnosis. Healthcare providers should offer health information and psychosocial support to women according to their disease progression.