Psychology Commons^™

Medical Mistrust, Hiv-Related Conspiracy Beliefs, And The Need For Cognitive Closure Among Urban-Residing African American Women: An Exploratory Study, Jennifer Rae Myers Phd, Kelsey Ball Phd, Sharlene L. Jeffers Ma, William B. Lawson Md, Phd, Dlfapa,Pa

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Despite advances regarding access to care and overall treatment, medical mistrust remains an important factor regarding clinical research participation as well as prevention/treatment-seeking behaviors among African American women. Such attitudes may be a result of psychosocial variables such as HIV-related conspiracy endorsement as well as a need for cognitive closure (NFCC) that reinforces their beliefs of interpersonal and institutional discrimination. To explore how well these psychosocial factors predict medical mistrust, thirty-five urban-residing African American women completed a demographics survey, the Medical Mistrust Index (MMI), a HIV-related conspiracy beliefs survey, and the Need for Closure Scale (NFCS). Results showed that the …