Claiming HIV Infection From Improbable Modes as a Possible Coping Strategy~1

摘要

Despite the extreme improbability of contracting HIV from oral intercourse, indi-viduals continue to claim seroconversion via such behaviors. Among a sample ofHIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), those who attributed contractingHIV from oral intercourse or other non-anal intercourse sexual behaviors were 5times more likely to be a racial minority and 2 times more likely to be of lowersocioeconomic status. Those believing less in a just world were 2 times more likely toattribute contracting HIV from non-anal intercourse sexual behaviors. AttributingHIV contraction to improbable modes may be an attractive coping strategy todeflect the stigma more intensely felt among poorer, minority HIV-positive MSM,and among men who are sensitive to fairness and justice.