Identifying the Components of romantic attachment of positive HIV couples: A Qualitative Study

AIDS is one of the most important socio-medical issues worldwide and can be used to identify attachment components within interpersonal relationships from the unique perspective of HIV-infected couples. The purpose of this study was to identify the components of romantic attachment in couples with human immune deficiency virus [HIV].

This is a qualitative study with inductive Conventional content analysis method in which 14 HIV-positive couples who referred to Behavioral Disease Center of Mahshahr during 1398, were selected by purposeful sampling and participated in the study. Semi-structured in-depth in-person interviews were used to collect the data.

Data analysis led to a key subject titled “romantic attachment” which its framework included eight components of "love and like", "security", "reassurance", "self-disclosure", " Conflict management","maintaining a positive relationship", "physical well-being", and" sexual satisfaction ".

The findings of the present study show the existence of romantic attachment in HIV couples that according to these components obtained for romantic attachment, with planning and selecting effective ways to promote these dimensions, can be used this component to empower these couples as much as possible.