Unmet core needs for self-determination in HIV-infected women of color in medical care.

The levels of satisfaction of the core self-determination needs (relatedness, autonomy and competence) among HIV-infected women of color as well as the association between need fulfillment and patient characteristics were examined. Having less than a high-school education was associated with lowest need satisfaction: autonomy (β = -1.90; 95%CI = -3.20, -0.60), relatedness (β = -2.70; 95%CI = -4.30, -1.10) and competency (β = -2.50; 95%CI = -3.60, -1.30). Each additional point increase in affective symptoms of depression was associated with decrements in need satisfaction (-.61 autonomy, -.68 relatedness and -.59 competency). Relatedness satisfaction was lower with higher responses on all three measures of violence (psychological abuse: β = -0.13, 95%CI = -0.19 to -0.07; adult traumatic experiences: β = -0.24, 95%CI = -0.35 to -0.13 and childhood traumatic experiences: β = -0.24, 95%CI = -0.40 to -0.08). Interventions that address core self-determination needs, and the characteristics that influence them, may enhance the motivation for self-care of HIV-infected women.