ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF JOHNSON,MAGIC HIV-POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Was Magic Johnson's public HIV positive disclosure correlated with changes in AIDS-related attitudes and behaviors of individuals on a college campus? Students surveyed within two weeks of Johnson's disclosure (n = 125) were compared to matched samples the semester before (n = 89) and after (n = 60) the announcement. We also monitored the circulation of books on AIDS at the campus library and pamphlets about AIDS taken from campus locations during this time period. After the announcement, students expressed more tolerance for people with AIDS and perceived their AIDS knowledge as higher. However, neither perceived susceptibility to HIV nor reports of safer sexual behavior increased. A short-lived increase in the numbers of pamphlets taken and books checked our was correlated with Johnson's announcement. Thus, interest in learning about AIDS and tolerance for people with AIDS increased, but there were no changes in personal risky behavior.