The knowledge paradox: an inverted U-shaped association between HIV knowledge and stigma among older men in Sichuan Province, Southwest China
Among older Chinese men, HIV knowledge has an inverted U-shaped association with stigma. Initial knowledge acquisition correlates with heightened stigma, potentially reflecting sociocultural interpretations of fragmented information. Only beyond a specific threshold does further knowledge correlate with reduced stigma. Interventions may need to be staged or tailored based on individuals' existing knowledge levels, addressing both the nonlinear knowledge-stigma dynamic and underlying sociocultural norms.
Authors
- Ruqin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8286-0367)
- Shu Liang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0331-246X)
- Yi Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2825-4144)
- Shuangru Li
- Zhihua Ye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8245-9744)
- Yuan Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1211-6812)
- Xiaochun Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0793-9339)
- Yuan Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0438-7794)
- Peng Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6685-1906)
- Jia He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4766-6718)
- Bihui Yang
Institutions
- Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CN)
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Public Health
- Published
- 2025-12-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1685602
- Primary Topic
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention