We investigated whether HIV stigma has changed in recent years. We compared data on stigma settings and manifestations from 2007 (n = 667) and, specifically for health care, 2009 (n = 262), to data acquired in 2019/2020 (n = 258). Results showed reductions in stigma from friends, family, acquaintances, at work, in the financial services sector, and in media, but stigmatizing messages in media remained highly prevalent. Stigma in the LGBTQI+ community, with sexual partners, and while partying also remained prevalent and, disconcertingly, relatively unchanged. Stigma in health care increased. HIV stigma was positively related to psychological distress, and negatively related to social support and medication adherence. Further, most participants were familiar with U=U and PrEP, but 13.3% questioned the accuracy of U=U. Stigma reduction efforts should focus on reducing stigma in media, in the LGBTQI+ community and while dating, and in health care, with U=U as a key message.

We investigated whether HIV stigma in the Netherlands has changed in recent years. We compared data on stigma settings and manifestations from 2007 (n = 667) and, specifically for the health care sector, 2009 (n = 262), to data acquired in 2019 and 2020 (n = 258). Results showed reductions in stigma from friends, family, acquaintances, at work, in the financial services sector, and in media. However, stigmatizing messages in media remained highly prevalent. Stigma in the LGBTQI+ community, with sexual partners, and while partying remained prevalent and, disconcertingly, relatively unchanged. Stigma in healthcare increased for a number of stigma manifestations, including physical distance, excessive preventive measures, awkward social interactions, avoidance, and unnecessary referrals. As expected, HIV stigma was positively related to psychological distress, and negatively related to social support and medication adherence. Further, most participants were familiar with U=U and PrEP, but 13.3% questioned the accuracy of U=U.

Objective Weight stigma is prevalent across multiple life domains, and negatively affects both psychological and physical health. Yet, research into weight stigma reduction techniques is limited, and rarely results in reduced antipathy toward higher-weight individuals. The current pre-registered study investigated a novel weight stigma reduction intervention. We tested whether a writing exercise focusing on body functionality (i.e., everything the body can do, rather than how it looks) of another person leads to reductions in weight stigma. Method Participants were 98 women (Mage = 23.17, Range = 16–63) who viewed a photograph of a higher-weight woman, “Anne,” and were randomised to complete a writing exercise either describing what “Anne’s” body could do (experimental group) or describing her home (active control group). Facets of weight stigma were assessed at pretest and posttest. Results At posttest, the experimental group evidenced higher fat acceptance and social closeness to “Anne” compared with the active control group. However, no group differences were found in attribution complexity, responsibility, and likeability of “Anne”. Conclusions A brief body functionality intervention effectively reduced some, but not all, facets of weight stigma in women. This study provides evidence that functionality-focused interventions may hold promise as a means to reduce weight stigma.

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