HIV Stigma Scale (BHSS) Test

Understand how stigma affects a person living with HIV in just 3 minutes. Use results to spot risk early, guide support plans, build trust, and track change over time.

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Questions: 123 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

15956 views

1230 completions

1094 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

9/12

Negative Self-Image (NS)

Assesses the degree of guilt, shame, and self-blame a person associates with living with HIV.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 3.8: Low | 3.9 – 8.6: Moderate | 8.7 – 12: High

A score of 9 falls in the High range, suggesting relatively strong feelings of guilt/shame and internalized self-blame related to HIV.

example score

8/12

Public Attitudes (PA)

Assesses how strongly a person perceives that most people hold stigmatizing attitudes toward HIV.

Low perceived stigma

Moderate perceived stigma

High perceived stigma

3 – 5: Low perceived stigma | 6 – 10: Moderate perceived stigma | 11 – 12: High perceived stigma

A score of 8 falls in the moderate range, suggesting a noticeable perception that public attitudes toward HIV are biased or rejecting.

example score

10/12

Disclosure Concerns (DC)

Measures the extent to which a person wants to keep their HIV status hidden from others due to anticipated negative reactions.

Low concealment

Moderate concealment

High concealment

3 – 5: Low concealment | 6 – 10: Moderate concealment | 11 – 12: High concealment

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate concealment range, suggesting a notable tendency to limit disclosure of HIV status in some situations.

example score

8/12

Personalized Stigma (PS)

Measures anticipated negative consequences and fear of judgment or discrimination when disclosing an HIV diagnosis.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 4: Low | 5 – 9: Moderate | 10 – 12: High

A score of 8 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme concern about negative reactions or discrimination if the HIV status is disclosed.

example score

27/48

Overall HIV Stigma (OHS)

Measures the overall intensity of perceived HIV-related stigma, integrating experiences of rejection, bias, and internalized stigma across domains.

Low

Moderate

High

12 – 23: Low | 24 – 35: Moderate | 36 – 48: High

A score of 27 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of perceived HIV-related stigma and its potential impact on social comfort and self-perception.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People living with HIV

46%OF USERS

They take it to understand how much stigma, rejection, or pressure they feel and how it may be affecting their mood, relationships, and willingness to seek help.

HIV clinic psychologists

34%OF USERS

They use it to quickly identify clients at risk of isolation or depression and to plan targeted psychological support over time.

NGO support program staff

20%OF USERS

They administer it to monitor stigma levels in participants and evaluate whether outreach and peer-support interventions are reducing barriers to care.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

Negative Self-Esteem (NS)

Average

7.4

Normal range

6.2 — 8.5

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Public Opinion (PO)

Average

5.3

Normal range

3.9 — 6.6

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Disclosure (D)

Average

8.8

Normal range

7.4 — 10.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Personalized stigma (Ps)

Average

6.6

Normal range

5 — 8.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Overall HIV Stigma Index (OHSI)

Average

33.2

Normal range

27.7 — 38.8

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures perceived stigma related to living with HIV, including experiences of prejudice, social rejection, and pressure to conceal status. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stigma.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

It takes about 3 minutes to complete. It includes 12 items.

What time frame should be used when answering?

Use recent experiences and current expectations unless an item clearly refers to a specific situation. If uncertain, select the response that best fits typical experience.

How should the items be answered?

Read each statement and choose the response option that most closely matches the level of agreement. Answer all items without spending excessive time on any one question.

How are results used in practice?

Results can help identify individuals at risk for social withdrawal, distress, or reduced help-seeking. They can also support treatment planning and monitoring change over time.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

HIV Stigma Scale (BHSS) Test

stigmatization

This brief self-report measure is designed to assess perceived and internalized stigma related to living with HIV. The HIV Stigma Scale (BHSS) is intended to support clinical case formulation and treatment planning by identifying stigma-related beliefs and expectations that may affect psychological functioning and health-related behavior.

Developed by Bruce G. Link and Gregory M. Herek, it consists of 12 items and typically requires about 3 minutes to complete. The HIV Stigma Scale (BHSS) may be used to monitor stigma-related concerns over time and to inform discussions about social support, disclosure, and barriers to engagement in care.

Author: Bruce G. Link, Gregory M. Herek

Literature: Earnshaw, V. A., Smith, L. R., Chaudoir, S. R., Amico, K. R., & Copenhaver, M. M. HIV stigma mechanisms and well-being among PLWH: a test of the HIV stigma framework. AIDS and Behavior. 2013.; Berger, B. E., Ferrans, C. E., & Lashley, F. R. Measuring stigma in people with HIV: psychometric assessment of the HIV stigma scale. Research in Nursing & Health. 2001.

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