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Boy Bi! The Association Between HIV Knowledge, PrEP Stigma, Bisexual Contact, and Binegativity in a Sample of
Background:
Binegativity (negative attitudes and beliefs towards bisexual people) towards bisexual men includes inaccurate stereotypes of sexual promiscuity and serving as vectors of HIV to heterosexual women. College students' HIV knowledge has been negatively associated with homonegative attitudes towards gay men; however, limited studies have explored the link between HIV knowledge and binegativity towards bisexual men. Like bisexual men, people who take HIV prevention medications (i.e., PrEP) are also stigmatized as being sexually irresponsible and promiscuous. However, limited studies have examined the link between PrEP stigma and binegativity towards bisexual men. To reduce binegativity, bisexual contact (positive and meaningful interactions with bisexual people) has been linked to reduced prejudice against bisexual people. The goal of the study was to examine the link between HIV knowledge, dimensions of PrEP stigma, bisexual contact, and binegativity towards bisexual men among undergraduate students ( N = 633).
Method:
Undergraduate students were recruited through the University of Houston's SONA system and answered self-report forms regarding demographic variables, bisexual contacts, HIV knowledge, dimensions of PrEP stigma, and attitudes towards bisexual men. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to test the relationship between HIV knowledge, dimensions of PrEP stigma, and bisexual contact with binegativity. Additionally, bisexual contact was tested as a potential moderator between HIV knowledge and binegativity, and between dimensions of PrEP stigma and binegativity.
Results:
HIV knowledge and bisexual contact were negatively associated with binegativity, while dimensions of PrEP stigma were positively associated with binegativity. Bisexual contact did not moderate the relationship between HIV knowledge and binegativity, and between dimensions of PrEP stigma and binegativity. These results suggest that LGBTQ inclusive sexual health education that includes accurate information about HIV, STIs, and PrEP may play a major role in reducing negative attitudes towards sexual minorities.