Prediction of attitudes towards restrictive aids policies: A structural equation modelling approach

The purpose of the study was to test a prehypothesized structural equation model of predictors of attitudes towards restrictive AIDS policies. It was assumed that such attitudes are under influence of both cognitive processes and more general attitudinal structures. The hypothesized model was tested against empirical data from a nation-wide survey of Norwegian adults, including 543 males and 577 females. The proposed model fit the data reasonably well. As expressed by total effect education was the most important predictor of AIDS policy attitudes. However, the most notable finding appeared to be the strong direct effect exerted by attitudes towards minorities. Misinformation about AIDS transmission and sexual attitudes also exerted significant direct effects upon AIDS policy attitudes. The results clearly demonstrate that AIDS policy attitudes are not cognitively based alone but also reflect more general attitudinal structures. Thus choosing a strategy which is primarily based on increasing the flow of factual AIDS information in order to remedy casual contact beliefs, will not be sufficient to prevent stigmatized and negative AIDS attitudes. This is more evident in that beliefs about modes of AIDS transmission, as reported in this study, seem themselves to have a symbolic component. A perspective which includes the idea of the value expressive fuctions of AIDS related attitudes seem relevant. Consequently, educational strategies which directly address prejudiced attitudes towards minority groups may prove particularly appropriate in the prevention of stigmatized and restrictive AIDS attitudes.