HIV testing among LGBTQIA+ individuals: the impact of outness and peer openness

Abstract

This study focused on individuals who classify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and any other non-heterosexual orientations (LGBTQIA+) and their general attitude towards HIV testing. The hypothesis for this study is that LGBTQIA+ individuals with lower levels of predictor variables (lower level of outness and peer openness) have significantly different attitudes towards HIV testing than those with higher levels of predictor variables. A three-part survey was passed out via quota sampling method, and 121 participants answered the survey. The result showed that there is a statistical significance between a LGBTQIA+ individual’s level of outness and their attitude towards HIV testing (p < 0.05), which leads to the conclusion that level of outness may be an indicator that predicts a LGBTQIA+ individual’s attitude towards HIV testing. Findings of this study may help understand the relationship between LGBTQIA+ individuals’ psychological barrier factors and attitudes towards HIV testing, which may inform future research and practices.

Keywords

• LGBTQIA+
• HIV test
• outness
• peer openness