Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Cultural Mistrust, Conspiracy Theories and Attitudes towards HIV Testing Among African Americans

Abstract

Kelsey Ball

Background: With respect to the HIV epidemic, research has shown that health behaviors are affected by a number of attitudinal factors such as cultural mistrust, medical mistrust and conspiracy beliefs. While it is clear that these variables have a deleterious effect on health behaviors, the literature fails to explore how these factors uniquely influence and predict an individual’s attitudes and overall willingness to receive HIV testing. Furthermore, cognitive factors such as the need for cognitive closure have received little attention with regard to HIV testing attitudes. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine inter-correlations between cultural mistrust, medical mistrust, HIV conspiracy theories and the need for cognitive closure and to explore the extent to which these variables predict attitudes towards HIV testing. Methods: This study consisted of 34 Black males and 84 Black females (n=118) between the ages of 16-67 years (μ=26.8 years) recruited from a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), a community college, as well as churches and local health forums in the Washington, D.C. area. Results: Results of the inter-correlations were mixed and regression analyses revealed that cultural mistrust, medical mistrust, HIV conspiracy beliefs and the need for cognitive closure were not significant predictors of attitudes towards HIV testing in these populations. Conclusion: The results are discussed from a psychosocial perspective and implications and future directions for public health, psychotherapy and clinical work are considered.