Social Interaction Anxiety between HIV Positive and HIV Negative Adults: A Comparative Study

The present research aims to examine the nature of social interaction anxiety in HIV positive adults and HIV negative adults as well as the effect of gender on social interaction anxiety (SIA). This study attempts to focus on some of the specific aspects of SIA that distinguish the HIV positive adults from the HIV negative adults and thus, place the former at a higher risk of further health care problems. A sample (N =60) of 30 HIV positive adults (15 men and 15 women) and 30 HIV negative adults (15 men and 15 women), aged between 18 to 25 years, responded to the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) (Mattick & Clarke, 1998). Findings indicated that the HIV positive adults reported higher social interaction anxiety than the HIV negative adults. Specifically, the HIV positive adults experienced higher levels of worry and tension, higher anxiety with respect to interpersonal skills, and greater fear of being judged than the HIV negative adults. The present study calls for further research to be done on the impact of social, economic, environmental (rural and urban) and educational backgrounds, family settings, personality and self-esteem of HIV positive adults on SIA.