ABSTRACT
Advances in antiretroviral treatments have dramatically increased the life span of those infected with HIV to such a degree that HIV, which was once seen as a terminal illness, is now treated by health professionals as a chronic, but manageable, condition (e.g., Burgoyne, Rourke, Behrens, & Salit, 2004; Hogg et al., 1998). As a result, added emphasis is now being placed on managing quality-of-life factors beyond the physiological concerns of those infected with the virus. One issue of considerable importance to quality of life for people living with HIV is the social stigma that accompanies infection. Studies show that large portions of the U.S. public misunderstand HIV and its routes of transmission, express fear and disgust toward those infected with the virus, and support public policies that would deprive people living with HIV of their civil rights (e.g., Herek & Capitanio, 1999; Herek, Capitanio, & Widmann, 2002). Many people living with HIV are greatly concerned about the impact such stigma may have in their lives, report being stigmatized and, as a result, experience stress, anxiety, and a general disruption in their positive social interactions with others (D’Augelli, 1989; Derlega, Lovejoy, & Winstead, 1998). Subsequently, stigma has been labeled as the most important social and psychological issue of the HIV experience (Chung & McGraw, 1992; Crandall & Coleman, 1992; Moneyham et al., 1996).
