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HIV Testing Among Spanish Youth: Analysis of the Mediating Role of the Big Five Personality and Other Psychological Factors

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Abstract

Early diagnosis of HIV improves the effectiveness of treatments and stops the progression of the disease. The influence of personality and other psychological variables in testing for HIV is analyzed. The first part of the study is composed of 4,929 young people (M age = 20.45, SD = 2.16). For the second part, young heterosexuals who participated in a broader project on HIV prevention were selected (n = 240, M age = 20.78, SD = 2.29). Only 23.3 % of the total sample have ever been tested for HIV antibodies. The main reason for not testing was fear of positive result (25.4 %). Statistically significant differences in Agreeableness (p = .027), Trust (p = .022) and Straightforwardness (p = .024) were found between HIV-tested and not HIV-tested youth. Trust explained 3.3 % of variance of HIV-test. Knowing barriers to testing and individual differences could be useful in developing preventive campaigns.

Resumen

El diagnóstico precoz del VIH mejora la eficacia de los tratamientos y detiene la progresión de la enfermedad. Se analiza la influencia de la personalidad y otras variables psicológicas en la prueba de detección del VIH. La primera parte del estudio incluye 4,929 jóvenes (M edad = 20, DT = 2.16). La segunda seleccionó jóvenes heterosexuales participantes en un proyecto más amplio (n = 240, M edad = 20.78, DT = 2.26). El 23.3 % de la muestra total se ha realizado la prueba. La principal razón para no realizársela es el miedo a un resultado positivo (25.4 %). Se obtienen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los que se han realizado la prueba y los que no en: Amabilidad (p = .027), Confianza (p = .022) y Franqueza (p = .024). Confianza explicó un 3.3 % de la varianza. Las barreras percibidas y las diferencias individuales son útiles para la prevención.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Universidad Jaume I-Fundación Bancaixa (P1 1B2006-19) and the Spanish foundation for AIDS research and prevention known as Fundación para la Investigación y la Prevención del Sida en España (exp. 36639/07).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Basic Psychology and Psychobiology, School of Health Sciences, University Jaume I, Avda. Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón de la Plana, Spain

    Rafael Ballester-Arnal & Estefanía Ruiz-Palomino

  2. Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Estudi General, Valencia, Spain

    María Dolores Gil-Llario

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  1. Rafael Ballester-Arnal
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  2. Estefanía Ruiz-Palomino
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  3. María Dolores Gil-Llario
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Correspondence to Estefanía Ruiz-Palomino.

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This article has been revised by John Joseph Vélez B.A. University of Melbourne, Australia.

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Ballester-Arnal, R., Ruiz-Palomino, E. & Gil-Llario, M.D. HIV Testing Among Spanish Youth: Analysis of the Mediating Role of the Big Five Personality and Other Psychological Factors. AIDS Behav 19, 2001–2011 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1084-0

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