Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV
Objectives The better-off-dead belief, the idea that death is preferable for people living with human immunodeficiency virus, is a highly devaluing attitude, but little is known about its determinants among the general population. Guided by the instrumental model of stigma, this study examined the c...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of International Medical Research |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060519890819 |
| _version_ | 1818723127044079616 |
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| author | Jiasheng Huang Yuen Yee Shum Jianxin Zhang Nancy Xiaonan Yu |
| author_facet | Jiasheng Huang Yuen Yee Shum Jianxin Zhang Nancy Xiaonan Yu |
| author_sort | Jiasheng Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives The better-off-dead belief, the idea that death is preferable for people living with human immunodeficiency virus, is a highly devaluing attitude, but little is known about its determinants among the general population. Guided by the instrumental model of stigma, this study examined the contributive roles of fear of infection and social distance to this stigmatizing belief. Methods A total of 304 Chinese university students recruited in Guangzhou and Hong Kong responded to questionnaires assessing the better-off-dead belief, fear of infection and social distance. Structural equation modelling was used to test associations among the variables. Results Fear of infection and social distance were associated with higher levels of the better-off-dead belief. Social distance mediated the association between fear of infection and the better-off-dead belief. Conclusions Fear of infection and social distance are determinants of the better-off-dead belief, with social distance serving as a mediator. This study highlights the importance of addressing fear and avoidance in future public health efforts to reduce the prevalence of the better-off-dead belief. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:05:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e31ccd5943f142cc9811ac58534e0b47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-2300 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:05:34Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of International Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-e31ccd5943f142cc9811ac58534e0b472022-12-21T21:32:35ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of International Medical Research1473-23002020-10-014810.1177/0300060519890819Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIVJiasheng HuangYuen Yee ShumJianxin ZhangNancy Xiaonan YuObjectives The better-off-dead belief, the idea that death is preferable for people living with human immunodeficiency virus, is a highly devaluing attitude, but little is known about its determinants among the general population. Guided by the instrumental model of stigma, this study examined the contributive roles of fear of infection and social distance to this stigmatizing belief. Methods A total of 304 Chinese university students recruited in Guangzhou and Hong Kong responded to questionnaires assessing the better-off-dead belief, fear of infection and social distance. Structural equation modelling was used to test associations among the variables. Results Fear of infection and social distance were associated with higher levels of the better-off-dead belief. Social distance mediated the association between fear of infection and the better-off-dead belief. Conclusions Fear of infection and social distance are determinants of the better-off-dead belief, with social distance serving as a mediator. This study highlights the importance of addressing fear and avoidance in future public health efforts to reduce the prevalence of the better-off-dead belief.https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060519890819 |
| spellingShingle | Jiasheng Huang Yuen Yee Shum Jianxin Zhang Nancy Xiaonan Yu Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV Journal of International Medical Research |
| title | Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV |
| title_full | Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV |
| title_fullStr | Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV |
| title_short | Social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better-off-dead beliefs about people living with HIV |
| title_sort | social distance mediates the association between fear of infection and better off dead beliefs about people living with hiv |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060519890819 |
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