Стигматизация людей, живущих с ВИЧ, и осведомленность о ВИЧ-инфекции среди россиян

Клиническая и специальная психология. 2026. Т. 15. № 1. С. 149–165.

Koreneva E., Zolotareva A.

Context and relevance. Russian scientists are actively studying the stigmatization of people living with HIV from the perspective of HIV-positive people themselves, but there is a lack of research on the attitudes of people living with HIV in society, which could fill the gaps in understanding the nature of HIV stigma.

Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the stigmatization of people living with HIV and awareness of HIV infection, as well as their interrelationships with the belief in a dangerous world and the social and psychological distress among Russians.

Methods and materials. The survey covered 774 respondents aged 18 to 77 years (M = 26.9; SD = 12.3, 75% female). All respondents completed the Russian versions of the AIDS-Related Stigma Scale (ARSS), AIDS Knowledge Scale (AKS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8), and Belief in a Dangerous World Scale (BDW).

Results. Absolutely tolerant attitudes towards people with HIV were held by 39% of respondents, while 61% of respondents showed varying degrees of stigma towards HIV-infected people. Awareness of HIV infection was predominantly high, but in 40% of cases respondents were mistaken about the existence of a cure (vaccine) for HIV/AIDS. Stigmatization of people living with HIV and HIV awareness were closely related to each other, as well as to Russians’ somatic and psychological distress: firstly, Russians with less HIV awareness were more strongly stigmatized as HIV-infected, secondly, Russians with more HIV awareness were more stressed and somatised, and Russians with more HIV stigmatization were less stressed and somatised. AIDS-related stigma was also more pronounced in older respondents and respondents with children.

Conclusions. It is concluded that community education on HIV awareness and HIV stigma can be a health-promoting strategy.

Keywords: Russians, стигматизация, stigmatization, россияне, psychological distress, психологический дистресс, human immunodeficiency virus, вирус иммунодефицита человека, somatic distress, соматический дистресс, HIV awareness, осведомленность о ВИЧ-инфекции

Publication based on the results of: Развитие психосоматических исследований в России (2025)