AIDS EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS AS A FUNCTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND HIV STATUS

This study investigated the effectiveness of an AIDS educator as a fun ction of his HIV status and sexual orientation. A 2 x 2 factorial desi gn was employed where 136 heterosexual undergraduates viewed 1 of 4 vi deotapes of an AIDS educator who introduced himself as either HIV posi tive or negative and either heterosexual or homosexual. The videos wer e identical except for the introduction. Results revealed that all vid eos increased knowledge about AIDS. However, students' perceptions of risk increased only when they believed the educator was HIV positive a nd heterosexual. Intentions to get tested for HIV increased when they perceived the educator as HIV positive but declined when they thought she was HIV negative. Results suggest the sexual orientation and HIV s tatus of educators can impact their effectiveness.