Cynicism, Pessimism, and Homophobia as Predictors of Negative Attitudes Towards People with HIV/AIDS

Miljana B. Nikolić; Nebojša M. Milićević

doi:10.5937/zrffp52-36994

Miljana B. Nikolić University of Niš, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology
Nebojša M. Milićević University of Nis, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/zrffp52-36994

Keywords: HIV, AIDS, negative attitudes, pessimism, cynicism, homophobia

Abstract

The aim of the research was to examine whether it is possible to predict negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS with the help of cynicism, pessimism, and homophobia. The sample was convenient and consisted of 100 respondents (M = 20, F = 80), average age 22.63 (SD = 5.04). The following instruments were used for the operationalization of the mentioned constructs: Scale of Pessimism, Scale of Cynicism, and Test of Homophobia (H25). To measure negative attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS, we used a subscale of the test which operationalizes the tendency to stigmatize and discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS. Hierarchical linear regression was used to process the results. Predictors were pessimism, cynicism, and homophobia, while the criteria were negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS. The results show that the first two models were not statistically significant, while the last model, after adding a variable that measures homophobia, becomes significant. The model composed of cynicism, pessimism, and homophobia explains 34% of the total variance (p = .00). Homophobia makes a significant contribution to the prediction, which is also a statistically significant predictor of negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS (β = .54, t = 6.43, p = .00). Pessimism was also a statistically significant individual predictor (β = 20, t = 2.00, p = .05). It can be concluded that higher levels of pessimism and more pronounced homophobia significantly predict negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS.

References

Adrien, A., Beaulieu, M., Leaune, V., Perron, M., Dassa, C. (2012). Trends in Attitudes Toward People Living with HIV, Homophobia, and HIV Transmission Knowledge in Quebec, Canada (1996, 2002, and 2010). AIDS Care, 25(1), 55–65.

Augusto-Landa, J. M., Pulido-Martos, M., Lopez-Zafra, E. (2011). Does Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Optimism/Pessimism Predict Psychological Well-Being?. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 12(3), 463–474.

Basow, S. A. & Johnson, K. (2000). Predictors of Homophobia in Female College Students. Sex Roles, 42, 391–404.

Baunach, D. M. & Burgess, E. O. (2013). HIV/AIDS Prejudice in the American Deep South. Sociological Spectrum, 33(2), 175–195.

Beaulieu, M., Adrien, A., Potvin, L., Dassa, C. (2014). Stigmatizing Attitudes Towards People Living with HIV/AIDS: Validation of a Measurement Scale. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1–13.

Berger, B. E., Ferrans, C. E., Lashley, F. R. (2001). Measuring Stigma in People with HIV: Psychometric Assessment of the HIV Stigma Scale. Research in Nursing & Health, 24(6), 518–529.

Carver, C. S. & Scheier, M. F. (2001). Optimism, Pessimism, and Self-Regulation. In: E. C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism & Pessimism: Implications for Theory, Research, and Practice (31–51). Washington: American Psychological Association.

Chang, E. C. et al. (2013). An Examination of Optimism/Pessimism and Suicide Risk in Primary Care Patients: Does Belief in a Changeable Future Make a Difference?. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 37(4), 796–804.

Ćubela Adorić, V. & Tucak, I. (2006). Skala cinizma i povjerenja. U: V. Ćubela Adorić, A. Proroković, Z. Penezić, I. Tucak (ur.), Zbirka psihologijskih skala i upitnika, sveska III (27–36). Zadar: Filozofski fakultet.

D’Augelli, A. R., Pilkington, N. W., Hershberger, S. L. (2002). Incidence and Mental Health Impact of Sexual Orientation Victimization of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths in High School. School Psychology Quarterly, 17(2), 148–167.

Erikson, E. (2008). Identitet i životni ciklus. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike.

Espelage, D. L., Aragon, S. R., Birkett, M., Koenig, B. W. (2008). Homophobic Teasing, Psychological Outcomes, and Sexual Orientation Among High School Students: What Influence Do Parents and Schools Have?. School Psychology Review, 37(2), 202–216.

Genberg, L. B. et al. (2009). A Comparison of HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma in Four Countries: Negative Attitudes and Perceived Acts of Discrimination Towards People Living With HIV/AIDS. Social Science & Medicine, 68(12), 2279–2287.

Giacomozzi, A. I., Bousfield, S. A. B., Pires Coltro, B., Xavier, M. (2019). Social Representations of Living With HIV/AIDS and Experiences of Prejudice in Brazil. Liberabit, 25(1), 85–98.

Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New York: Simon & Chuster.

Gonzales, H. E. (2016). Negative Attitudes as Scapegoating and the Effects on LGBT Individuals. Carpinteria: Pacifica Graduate Institute.

Herek, G. M. (2004). Beyond “Homophobia”: Thinking about Sexual Prejudice and Stigma in the Twenty-First Century. Sexuality Research & Social Policy, 1, 6–24.

Hetch, D. (2013). The Neural Basis of Optimism and Pessimism. Experimental Neurobiology, 22(3), 173–199.

Joshi, R. & Tomar, S. (2012). Effect of Optimism/Pessimism Attitude on Depression and Coping Strategies. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 445–447.

Klauder, J. V. (1938). Stigmatization. Archives of Dermatology and Syphilology, 37(4), 650–659.

Lingiardi, V., Falanga, S., D’Augelli, A. R. (2005). The Evaluation of Homophobia in an Italian Sample. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(1), 81–93.

Malley, M. & Tasker, F. (2004). Signiﬁcant and Other: Systemic Family Therapists on Lesbians and Gay Men. Journal of Family Therapy, 26(2), 193–212.

Marković, Z., Todorović, D., Nedeljković, J. (2016). Psihološki korelati preferiranog stila vođstva kod studenata. Godišnjak za psihologiju, 13 (15), 101–115.

Marshall, G. N., Wortman, C. B., Kusulas, J. W., Hervig, L. K., Vickers, R. R., Jr. (1992). Distinguishing Optimism from Pessimism: Relations to Fundamental Dimensions of Mood and Personality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62(6), 1067–1074.

Nagoshi, J. et al. (2008). Gender Differences in Correlates of Homophobia and Transphobia. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 59(7/8), 521–531.

Peate, I., Suominen, T., Välimäki, M., Lohrmann, C., Muinonen, U. (2002). HIV/AIDS and its Impact on Student Nurses. Nurse Education Today, 22(6), 492–501.

Penezić, Z. (1999). Zadovoljstvo životom: Relacije sa životnom dobi i nekim osobnim značajkama (odbranjen magistarski rad). Filozofski fakultet, Zagreb.

Poteat, P. V. & Espelage, D. L. (2007). Predicting Psychosocial Consequences of Homophobic Victimization in Middle School Students. Journal of Early Adolescence, 27(2), 175–191.

Scheier, F. M. & Carver, C. S. (2018). Dispositional Optimism and Physical Health: A Long Look Back, a Quick Look Forward. The American Psychologist, 73(9), 1082–1094.

Singh, S. & Mishra, S. (2014). Optimism – Pessimism among Adolescents – A Gender Based Study. International Journal of Science and Research, 3(6), 1530–1532.

Smith, W. T., Ruiz, M. J., Cundiff, M. J., Baron, G. K., Nealey-Moore, B. J. (2013). Optimism and Pessimism in Social Context: An Interpersonal Perspective on Resilience and Risk. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(5), 553–562.

Thompson, R. C., Joseph, K. M., Bailey, L. L., Worley, J. A., Williams, C. A. (2000). Organizational Change: An Assessment of Trust and Cynicism. Oklahoma City: Civil Aeromedical Institute.

Weinberg, G. H. (1972). Society and the Healthy Homosexual. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Wrightsman, L. S. (1991). Interpersonal Trust and Attitudes Toward Human Nature. In: J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver, L. S. Wrightsman (Eds.), Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes (373–412). Cambridge, MA: Academic Press.

Wrightsman, L. S. (1992). Assumptions about Human Nature: Implications for Researchers and Practitioners (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

Van der Velden, P. G. et al. (2007). The Association Between Dispositional Optimism and Mental Health Problems Among Disaster Victims and a Comparison Group: A Prospective Study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 102(1–3), 35–45.

Von Collani, G., Grumm, M., Streicher, K. (2010). An Investigation of the Determinants of Stigmatization and Prejudice Toward People Living With HIV/AIDS. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 40(7), 1747–1766.

Živanović, M., Đokić, T., Lazarević, B. Lj., Orlić, A., Bjekić, J. (2014). Konstrukcija i empirijska provera testa homofobije. Primenjena psihologija, 7 (4), 581–598.