Victim-blaming tendency toward people with AIDS among college students

The victim-blaming tendency toward people with AIDS was examined in relatio n to gender, fraternity-sorority affiliation, classification (freshmen vs. others), religion (Catholic vs. others), and academic major (business colle ge vs, others) in a survey of 818 students at a midwestern state university in the United States. Desired social distance from gay men and lesbians, t he intervening variable in these relations, significantly mediated the indi rect effect of fraternity-sorority affiliation, classification, and gender on the victim-blaming tendency. Gender and desired social distance were fou nd to be significant direct determinants of the victim-blaming tendency tow ard people with AIDS. The study suggests that attitudes toward gay men and lesbians must change if attitudes toward people with AIDS are to change.