Earvin "Magic" Johnson's HIV serostatus disclosure: effects on men's perceptions of AIDS.
The effects of celebrity self-disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity on perceptions of HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were investigated. AIDS-related interest and knowledge measures were collected from 468 men before and after basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson's self-disclosure of HIV seropositivity. Increased interest in AIDS paralleled media coverage of the announcement, with the most substantial effects occurring within 2 weeks. Perceived impact of the disclosure was greatest among African-American men and men who had not previously known someone with HIV-AIDS. Celebrity self-disclosure appears to affect perceptions through mechanisms similar to those involved in personally knowing someone infected with HIV.
Kalichman
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Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Russell
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Hunter
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Sarwer
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001490:Basketball; D005197:Famous Persons; D005783:Gender Identity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011639:Public Opinion; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012725:Sexual Behavior