STIGMATIZATION OF AIDS PATIENTS BY MENTAL-HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Clinical/counseling psychologists and social workers N = 185 from 13 cities in the U.S. read 1 of 4 vignettes describing a patient. Subjects completed questionnaires that assessed their reactions to the patient described in the vignette. The vignettes were identical except that the patient was identified as having AIDS or leukemia, and the patient's sexual orientation as either homosexual or heterosexual. Results indicate that subjects who rated a patient with AIDS were less likely to accept them for treatment, make physical contact, and were more likely to believe they were less deserving of sympathy than subjects rating patients with leukemia. Participants who did not have previous AIDS education/training were more likely to hold negative attitudes toward gay individuals and persons with AIDS.