Faculty Collaboration Database

The stigma of AIDS: fear of disease and prejudice toward gay men. J Homosex 1990;19(3):85-101

Date

01/01/1990

Pubmed ID

2212632

DOI

10.1300/J082v19n03_05

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0025002944 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   64 Citations

Abstract

Three hundred college students were presented with vignettes describing an ill person; the vignettes were identical except the illness was identified as either AIDS or leukemia and the individual was described as either homosexual or heterosexual. After reading one vignette, each subject completed a set of measures sensitive to interpersonal evaluation, prejudicial attitudes, and willingness to interact casually with the portrayed individual. The findings indicate the presence of highly stigmatizing attitudes towards AIDS patients and suggest that the public views AIDS patients and gay persons with similar attitudinal prejudice. The need for greater attention to AIDS by social and behavioral researchers is discussed.

Author List

St Lawrence JS, Husfeldt BA, Kelly JA, Hood HV, Smith S Jr

Author

Jeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Adult
Attitude to Health
Fear
Female
Homosexuality
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Personality Inventory
Prejudice
Psychometrics