Do message features influence reactions to HIV disclosures? a multiple-goals perspective.
People who are HIV-positive must make decisions about disclosing their status to others but do so in the context of stigma and social isolation reported by many with the disease. Disclosing an HIV-positive diagnosis is necessary to seek social support, to manage health care, and to negotiate sexual encounters, but fear of how others will respond is a strong barrier to revealing that information. This investigation focuses on various ways that HIV can be disclosed. Using a multiple-goals perspective, 24 disclosure messages (representing 6 different types) were created. Participants (N = 548) were asked to imagine one of their siblings revealing an HIV-positive diagnosis, using 1 of the 24 messages. Participants' reactions to the disclosures differed substantially across the various message types. The discussion focuses on theoretical explanations for the variations in responses and the utility of these findings for practical interventions concerning HIV disclosures.
Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 702 S.Wright St., No. 244 Lincoln Hall, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. caughlin@illinois.edu
John P
JP
Caughlin
Jennifer J
JJ
Bute
Erin
E
Donovan-Kicken
Kami A
KA
Kosenko
Mary E
ME
Ramey
Dale E
DE
Brashers
D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult