       Document 0160
 DOCN  M9620160
 TI    Attitudes towards people with HIV: are they as stigmatizing as people
       with HIV perceive them to be?
 DT    9602
 AU    Green G; MRC Medical Sociology Unit, Glasgow, Scotland.
 SO    Soc Sci Med. 1995 Aug;41(4):557-68. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96000837
 AB    Stigma is a feature of HIV disease and many people who are HIV-positive
       report that their lives are affected by fear of discrimination (felt
       stigma). Although opinions do not necessarily predict behaviour, this
       article examines whether the public's avowed attitudes to people with
       HIV are as punitive and stigmatizing as those infected think they are,
       and the extent to which public attitudes may contribute to felt stigma.
       A street survey was conducted in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland, asking
       a stratified quota sample of 300 men and women of all ages to complete a
       short questionnaire about their attitudes toward people with HIV. The
       same questionnaire was also completed by 42 men and women with HIV. One
       in five respondents in the street survey, and all of those with HIV,
       were also asked to complete the questionnaire imagining that they were a
       typical member of the public, to find out whether both groups attributed
       more hostile attitudes to generalized others than they themselves
       professed. Overall, the general public had relatively liberal views
       about people with HIV although a majority felt that some restrictions
       should be placed upon their freedom. Controlling for age, sex,
       socioeconomic status and city, people with HIV had more liberal
       attitudes than the general public, but perceived public attitudes to be
       far less liberal than were reported in the street survey. Respondents in
       the street survey also perceived generalized others to be less liberal
       than themselves. These results provide evidence of felt stigma among
       people with HIV and the policy implications are discussed. The findings
       are also set within a theoretical framework concerning the nature of
       attitudes, their relationship to behaviours, and the pervasiveness of
       negative images associated with AIDS.
 DE    Adult  *Attitude to Health  Female  Human  HIV Infections/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/*PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  HIV
       Seropositivity/PSYCHOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
       Male  Middle Age  *Prejudice  *Public Opinion  Sick Role  Social
       Isolation  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

