A causal model examining AIDS prejudice : AIDS attitudes and homophobia as latent variables

Prejudice and discrimination against people infected with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is widespread. A significant body of research has examined what personality and demographic characteristics appear to be related to discriminatory behavior, in an attempt to suggest who might be more likely to express prejudicial attitudes and discrimination against people with AIDS. This study tested two causal models which attempted to verify existing theories explaining the influences of demographic and attitudinal factors on the evaluation of a person with AIDS. Specifically, these models sought to answer questions related to what personality characteristics and demographic information are most important to AIDS educators and counselors when examining prejudice and discrimination towards persons with AIDS. Three hundred university undergraduates participated in the study. Structural equations modeling was used to analyze the extent to which the models fit the data. Results showed that both models adequately explained the data, with the model establishing a direct causal link between homophobic attitudes and AIDSbased prejudice as the preferred model. Alternative models were also considered in a post-hoc fashion. Implications of the results are discussed, with specific emphasis given to the potential ramifications to further research, counseling practice, and AIDS education.Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance ServicesThesis (Ph. D.