Adolescents' perceived risk for STDs and HIV infection

(1) To determine whether adolescents systematically underestimate their relative risk for STDs and HIV; and (2) to determine to what extent anxiety about STDs and HIV, past condom use, number of lifetime partners and STD/HIV-related beliefs predict perceived relative risk. Two hundred and thirty-one...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescent health 1996-03, Vol.18 (3), p.177-181
Main Authors: Ellen, Jonathan M., Boyer, Cherrie B., Tschann, Jeanne M., Shafer, Mary-ann
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Adolescent
Adolescents
AIDS/HIV
Analysis of Variance
Anxiety
Biological and medical sciences
Black White Differences
California
Comparison
Condoms
Factors
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
High School Students
HIV
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Illness and personality
Linear Models
Male
Perceptions of risk
Personality, behavior and health
Population
Psychology and medicine
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Racial Differences
Risk
Risk perception
Sexual behaviour
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control
STDs
Student Attitudes
Use of condoms
Venereal Diseases
Young people
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Summary:(1) To determine whether adolescents systematically underestimate their relative risk for STDs and HIV; and (2) to determine to what extent anxiety about STDs and HIV, past condom use, number of lifetime partners and STD/HIV-related beliefs predict perceived relative risk. Two hundred and thirty-one sexually experienced, racially diverse, urban high school teenagers (mean age = 15.5 years; 53% male) were surveyed regarding their STD/HIV-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. The subjects did not perceive themselves to be at lower risk compared to their perceptions of the risk of other people their age for STDs or HIV. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, perceptions of lower relative risk for STDs and for HIV were predicted by higher levels of anxiety (p < .001) but not by past condom use, number of lifetime partners or STD/HIVrelated beliefs (p > .05). Adolescents' perceptions of risk appear to be related to anxiety about STDs and HIV and their behaviors may be related to peer influences and attitudes toward using condoms.
ISSN:1054-139X
1879-1972
DOI:10.1016/1054-139X(94)00103-L