Social Stigma, HIV/AIDS Knowledge, and Sexual Risk1

A cross‐sectional study of 481 sexually active, heterosexual late adolescents showed that: (a) heterosexual people may be distancing themselves from HIV/AIDS because of its association with the gay community while also engaging in greater behavioral risk for HIV/AIDS; and (b) the ways a person comes to know about HIV/AIDS (perceived knowledge, passive classroom learning, media influence, and knowing people with HIV/AIDS) can be related to sexual risk behavior through the operation of two mediating variables, condom self‐efficacy and perceived HIV/AIDS risk. The variables studiedare closely linked with Stage 1 factors in the AIDS Risk Reduction Model. Implications for understanding how stigmatizing can affect behavior are discussed, as well as implications for education in HIV/AIDS related issues.