Loneliness Among People with HIV in Relation to Locus of Control and Negative Meta-Stereotyping

The aim of this research was to examine the relation between locus of control, meta-stereotyping (expectancies about how one's group is stereotyped by another group), and loneliness among people who are HIV-positive. In line with expectations, a survey in the Netherlands among 122 people living with HIV revealed that there are positive and significant relations between external locus of control, meta-stereotyping, and loneliness. As expected, the relation between an external locus of control and loneliness was, at least partially, mediated by metastereotyping. Thus, people with HIV who feel less in control over their lives are more likely to be lonely as a result of negative thoughts that they have about how they are stereotyped as HIV patients by other people.