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Perceived Vulnerability to HIV Infection, Anti-Gay Prejudice, and College Student Sexual Behavior
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by Laura C. Spiller, Beverly Stiles, David Carlston, and Laura A. Hise - Midwestern State University
Despite demonstrating adequate knowledge and awareness of
HIV/AIDS, college students continue to report low levels of safe sex
behaviors. Effective risk reduction strategies rely on identifying and
addressing cognitive barriers such as prejudice that HIV/AIDS is a disease
affecting only certain populations such as gay males and intravenous drug
users. These beliefs can interfere with the success of effective HIV/AIDS
prevention programs by making it difficult, embarrassing, or threatening
to engage in preventive behaviors. This study tested the hypothesis that
prejudice toward gay men would predict perceived personal vulnerability
to HIV infection and engagement in protective sexual behaviors, specifically
talking with one’s partners about the chance of HIV transmission and being
tested for HIV infection. Students with higher levels of antigay prejudice
reported less perceived vulnerability of HIV infection, after controlling for
higher risk sexual behaviors, R
= .19, F(1,148) = 8.30, p = .004. Greater
prejudice was also related to less likelihood of having been tested in the
past year. We discuss implications for augmenting prevention programs by
targeting misconceptions stemming from antigay prejudice.
Summer 2012 | Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research (Vol. 14, No. 1, p. 35), published by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2012, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.