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

Citation
Ke. Evers et al., AIDS EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS AS A FUNCTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND HIV STATUS, Journal of applied social psychology, 27(10), 1997, pp. 902-914
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Social
ISSN journal
00219029
Volume
27
Issue
10
Year of publication
1997
Pages
902 - 914
Database
ISI
SICI code
0021-9029(1997)27:10<902:AEEAAF>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
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.