Herpes Attitude Scale (HAS)

Description

The Herpes Attitude Scale (HAS) is a specialized psychometric instrument developed by Bruce and McLaughlin to assess individuals’ beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and emotional responses toward genital herpes (Herpes Simplex Virus – HSV). The instrument was designed to evaluate the psychological and social dimensions of herpes by measuring how individuals perceive the disease, people living with herpes, and the impact of infection on interpersonal relationships and everyday life.

The HAS consists of 40 Likert-type items that examine multiple dimensions of attitudes toward genital herpes, including:

  • feelings about oneself following a possible diagnosis;
  • attitudes toward individuals living with genital herpes;
  • communication about herpes;
  • intimate and sexual relationships;
  • friendship and social acceptance;
  • perceived coping ability;
  • misconceptions and myths surrounding HSV infection.

The scale was originally developed from an initial pool of 65 opinion statements, which were evaluated for readability and content validity by undergraduate students and expert judges. Following pilot testing and item analysis involving university students, the 40 items demonstrating the strongest discriminatory power between positive and negative attitudes were retained in the final version of the instrument.

Today, the HAS is widely used in health psychology, sexual health, clinical psychology, behavioral medicine, public health, epidemiology, and psychosocial research, particularly in studies investigating stigma, health beliefs, communication, and behavioral responses related to sexually transmitted infections.

Data Analysis and Applications

Data collected using the Herpes Attitude Scale (HAS) are analyzed using established psychometric and statistical procedures to evaluate the reliability and validity of the instrument. Internal consistency is commonly assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, while the underlying dimensional structure may be examined through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).

HAS scores can be analyzed in relation to numerous psychosocial and behavioral variables, including:

  • knowledge about genital herpes;
  • preventive health behaviors;
  • healthcare-seeking behavior;
  • treatment adherence;
  • willingness to disclose HSV infection to sexual partners;
  • perceived stigma and discrimination;
  • psychological well-being;
  • quality of life and interpersonal relationships.

The HAS is frequently used to:

  • assess attitudes toward genital herpes;
  • investigate stigma associated with HSV infection;
  • evaluate educational and public health interventions;
  • identify misconceptions and negative beliefs about genital herpes;
  • support research on sexual health, health communication, and psychosocial adaptation.

Because attitudes toward sexually transmitted infections strongly influence prevention, treatment, and disclosure behaviors, the HAS provides valuable information for clinicians, educators, and public health professionals.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Herpes Attitude Scale (HAS) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of individuals’ cognitive, emotional, and behavioral attitudes toward genital herpes.

More specifically, the instrument aims to:

  • evaluate beliefs and perceptions regarding HSV infection;
  • identify stigma, prejudice, and negative social attitudes;
  • assess emotional reactions associated with genital herpes;
  • examine the relationship between attitudes and preventive or treatment-related behaviors;
  • support the development and evaluation of educational and health promotion programs;
  • facilitate research on sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, and psychosocial well-being.

By identifying misconceptions and stigmatizing beliefs, the HAS contributes to the design of evidence-based interventions that promote accurate health knowledge, reduce discrimination, improve communication, and encourage healthier sexual behaviors.

Scoring

The Herpes Attitude Scale (HAS) consists of 40 items, each rated on a five-point Likert scale:

  • 1 = Strongly Disagree
  • 2 = Disagree
  • 3 = Neither Agree nor Disagree
  • 4 = Agree
  • 5 = Strongly Agree

The questionnaire includes 20 positively worded items and 20 negatively worded items, with the negative items requiring reverse scoring. The total attitude score is calculated using the standardized scoring formula developed by the original authors, converting responses to a 0–100 scale. Higher scores indicate more positive attitudes toward genital herpes, greater acceptance of individuals living with HSV, and stronger perceived coping ability.

Psychometric Properties

The original validation study demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.91, indicating high reliability. Content validity and face validity were established through expert evaluation involving a physician, a registered nurse, health educators, and an individual living with genital herpes, ensuring that the questionnaire adequately represented the construct of attitudes toward HSV infection.

References

Bruce, K., & McLaughlin, J. (1986). The Development of Scales to Assess Knowledge and Attitudes About Genital Herpes. The Journal of Sex Research, 22, 73–84.

Bruce, K. E. M., & Bullins, C. G. (1989). Students’ Attitudes and Knowledge About Genital Herpes. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 15, 257–270.