title: Stigma, secrecy, and discrimination: ethnic/racial differences in the concerns of people living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: The HIV Stigma Scale is a measure that assesses stigmatization perceived and experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Using Item Response Theory (IRT) methodologies, the present study examined HIV Stigma Scale responses from 224 Black and 317 White PLWHA to determine whether cross-cultural differences exist in responses to items of the scale. IRT analysis revealed that eleven out of forty items functioned differently across groups. Black respondents had a higher probability of indicating greater stigmatization on items that described situations in which others discriminated against them, and White respondents had a higher probability of indicating greater stigmatization on items that described a resolve to keep their status a secret and fears of interpersonal rejection. These differences suggest that PLWHA have different experiences of stigma based on their ethnic/racial background, either because of cultural differences or the ways in which the participants interpreted items of the HIV Stigma Scale.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 St. Clair, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. deepa-rao@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pryor
authors.forename: Bambi W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Gaddist
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011639:Public Opinion; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping