Sex differences in emotional and behavioral responses to HIV+ individuals' expression of distress

Authors: Bos, Arjan E. R.¹; Dijker, Anton J. M.²; Koomen, Willem³

Source: Psychology and Health, Volume 22, Number 4, May 2007 , pp. 493-511(19)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Two studies examined the influence of HIV+ individual's expression of distress on perceivers' emotional and behavioral reactions. In Study 1 (N = 224), HIV+ individual's expression of distress was experimentally manipulated by means of vignettes. Men and women reacted differently when persons with HIV conveyed distress: women reported stronger feelings of pity, whereas men reported stronger feelings of anger. Study 2 (N = 136) replicated this study in a realistic experimental setting with additional behavioral measures. Similarly, women reported stronger pro-social behavior than men when confronted with a person with HIV who conveyed distress. Results of the present study shed additional light to the self-presentational dilemma of ill persons. Conveying moderate levels of distress may evoke pro-social responses in women, but not in men.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; emotion; stigma; distress; sex differences

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14768320600976257

Affiliations: 1: Erasmus University Rotterdam and The Netherlands Open University, The Netherlands 2: Maastricht University, The Netherlands 3: University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Publication date: 2007-05-01