Breaching confidentiality with HIV-positive clients: the effects of counselor homophobia and stigmatizing beliefs

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2001-01-01
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Crawford, Brenda
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Psychology
The Department of Psychology may prepare students with a liberal study, or for work in academia or professional education for law or health-services. Graduates will be able to apply the scientific method to human behavior and mental processes, as well as have ample knowledge of psychological theory and method.
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Abstract

Persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) face many social stigmas, including those related to homosexuality, intravenous drug use, and the disease itself. Even with their education and experience, psychologists are not impervious to this stigmatization and homophobia, and these attributes can influence the ethical decision-making of clinicians when rendering counseling to persons with AIDS. The purpose of the current study is to determine the impact of counselor homophobia and stigmatization on breaching confidentiality with HIV-positive clients. Psychologists were presented a vignette describing the sexual and drug behaviors of one hypothetical HIV-positive client. The 16 vignettes were varied by client type (homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, or intravenous drug user), level of client dangerousness (high, low), and level of client remorse (remorseful, not remorseful). Stigmatization did influence likelihood of breaching confidentiality; however, homophobia did not. Psychologists who had contact with HIV-positive clients had lower levels of homophobia and stigmatization and were also less likely to breach confidentiality than those who had no contact. Client type and level of client remorse did not influence likelihood of breaching confidentiality. Level of client dangerousness had the most impact on likelihood of breaching confidentiality. Implications for future research are also discussed.

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Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2001