Where does the stress in discordant relationships come from?
• Transmission versus care giving In couples where both partners are HIV negative, the concern of both partners is the same: to stay HIV negative. However, in couples that have one partner negative and another positive, different issues are at hand. The positive partner is concerned about transmitting the virus to the negative partner. The negative partner commonly devotes his or her attention to their positive partner’s health, becoming the caregiver in the relationship. This difference in perspective and direction causes emotional conflicts ultimately increasing the stress within the relationship. • How did it happen? If one partner becomes positive while in a relationship, the first burning question the other partner will have is “How did that happen?” If the new infection is the result of unprotected sex outside the relationship or a consequence of sharing needles while injecting drugs, chances are the negative partner had no idea either behavior was going on. The stress caused by
