Abstract
Undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (n = 451) and the University of Georgia (n = 157) completed the Herpes Attitudes Scale (HAS) and Herpes Knowledge Scale (HKS) to provide normative data on students' knowledge and attitudes about genital herpes. Students were somewhat knowledgeable about genital herpes but expressed many fears and misconceptions about it, especially related to interpersonal interactions. Students who were personally acquainted with at least one genital herpes sufferer were more tolerant and more knowledgeable about the disease than were nonacquaintances. This indicates that familiarity with at least one individual who is living with genital herpes is related to increased acceptance and less fear about herpes. Attitudes about genital herpes and herpes sufferers should become less negatively stereotyped as genital herpes becomes more openly discussed.
