HIV-Related Stigma Moderates the Relation Between Perceived Susceptibility and HIV Testing Intention Among Heterosexual (but Not Sexual Minority) College Students. Issue 6 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berger, Alyssa; James, Tyler G.; Ryan, Sadie J.
• Is Part Of: Health promotion practice. Volume 23:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 950
• Page End: 954
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: sexual orientation -- HIV testing -- HIV-related stigma -- perceived susceptibility; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health promotion -- United States -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Health education -- United States -- Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1177/15248399211024993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1524-8399

Abstract

HIV-related stigma remains a considerable barrier to engaging at-risk populations in HIV testing and prevention programs. We assessed the moderating role of HIV-related stigma on the relation between perceived susceptibility to HIV and HIV testing intention among college students. We hypothesized that the moderating role of HIV-related stigma would be differential between heterosexual and sexual minority college students. We administered a survey focused on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in spring 2016 ( N = 2, 159). We used multigroup path analysis to analyze the hypothesized moderation. HIV-related stigma moderated the relation between perceived susceptibility and testing intention for heterosexual but not sexual minority college students. Specifically, higher HIV-related stigma decreased the association between perceived susceptibility and testing intention. These results demonstrate the importance of priority population segmentation for HIV testing campaigns.