HIV/AIDS Stigma and Religiosity Among African American Women

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive statistics of religious stigma

Religious stigma	Mean (standard deviation)
(1) HIV/AIDS is a punishment from God	1.64 (1.23)
(2) HIV/AIDS is a sin	1.44 (1.02)
(3) HIV/AIDS is a punishment for sin	1.72 (1.27)
(4) HIV/AIDS is a curse from God	1.57 (1.19)
(5) HIV/AIDS is a sin in the eyes of God	1.50 (1.08)
(6) People with HIV/AIDS need no mercy	1.43 (1.04)

Table 2. Sample characteristics

Education
Grade school or less	2%
Some high school	11%
Completed high school	20%
Some college	26%
Completed college	23%
Graduate school or more	17%
Marital status
Never married	52%
Married	31%
Separated	3%
Widowed	2%
Divorced	6%
Refused to answer	6%
Income
Less than $10,000	22%
$10,000 to $20,000	18%
$20,001 to $35,000	16%
$35,001 to $50,000	16%
$50,001 to 75,000	10%
$75,001 to $90,000	3%
$90,001 to $115,000	2%
$115,001 or more	2%
Refused to answer	11%

Table 3. Regression analysis on religious stigma toward HIV/AIDS

Predictor variables	β	t	R^2
Age	−.011	−.120
Income	.032	.397
Education	−.183	−2.161*
Know anyone with HIV/AIDS	.125	1.646	.05
Knowledge on HIV/AIDS	−.252	−3.316**	.12
Religiosity	−.179	−2.205*	.14

Table 4. Regression analysis on general stigma toward HIV/AIDS

Predictor variables	β	t	R^2
Age	.051	.563
Income	.102	1.246
Education	−.290	−3.332**
Know anyone with HIV/AIDS	.082	1.045	.09
Knowledge on HIV/AIDS	−.165	−2.109*	.12
Religiosity	−.079	−.947	.12