Contributing Factors to Fear of HIV Contagion in Registered Nurses

Abstract

This study tested the relationships of homophobia, fear of the unknown, fear of death, and fear of punishment as predictors of fear of HIV contagion. Knowledge of transmission and emotional involvement with a person at risk for HIV were hypothesized as decreasing fear among 114 randomly-selected RNs. Results supported significant relationships for all predictors except fear of death. Homophobia, lack of knowledge, lack of emotional involvement, and fear of the unknown predicted 57 percent of the variance in fear of contagion.