Abstract--Providing care to a spouse or partner who is dying and then losing that person are among
the most stressful of human experiences. A longitudinal study of the caregiving partners of men with
AIDS showed that in addition to intense negative psychological states, these men also experienced positive
psychological states throughout caregiv:mg and bereavement. The co-occurrence of positive and
negative psychological states in the midst of enduring and profoundly stressful circumstances has important
implications for our understanding of the coping process. Coping theory has traditionally
focused on the management of distress. This article describes coping processes that are associated with
positive psychological states in the context o1' intense distress and discusses the theoretical implications
of positive psychological states in the coping process