Interpersonal perception of the AIDS risk potential of persons of the opposite sex.

Individuals engage in high rates of AIDS risk behavior, despite awareness that infection is preventable, and use biased decision rules for determining the AIDS risk potential of their own and others' behavior. In this laboratory study, 32 male and 32 female university students made judgments of the AIDS risk potential of persons of the opposite sex following exposure to explicit information regarding AIDS-related attitudes and behavior in a discussion group. A social relations analysis showed that judgments of AIDS risk potential were determined by perceiver-based assimilation that was stronger than target-based consensus for both men and women. Further, perceptions of others were related to self-perception. However, the consensus that was observed showed moderate accuracy. Implications for AIDS prevention are discussed.

Changing AIDS risk behavior: effects of an intervention emphasizing AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills in a college student population.

This research used the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model of AIDS risk behavior change (J. D. Fisher & Fisher, 1992a) to reduce AIDS risk behavior in a college student population. College students received an IMB model-based intervention that addressed AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills deficits that had been empirically identified in this population, or were assigned to a no-treatment control condition. At a 1-month follow-up, results confirmed that the intervention resulted in increases in AIDS risk reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills, as well as significant increases in condom accessibility, safer sex negotiations, and condom use during sexual intercourse. At a long-term follow-up, the intervention again resulted in significant increases in AIDS preventive behaviors.

PIP: In 1992 at the University of Connecticut, researchers conducted a case control study to evaluate the effect of an AIDS risk reduction intervention on AIDS risk behavior in a college student population. They used the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model to design, implement, and evaluate the intervention. A health educator and five peer educators implemented the intervention, which consisted of three 2-hour sessions held 1 week apart. The first session, the information component, consisted of mainly an AIDS 101 humorous, heavily illustrated slide show that targeted information gaps. The second session, the motivation component, included small group discussions guided by peer educators followed by large group discussions guided by the health educator and a screening of a video entitled People Like Us. These discussions aimed to change attitudes and norms regarding preventive behavior and to influence students' perceptions of their social networks' support and expectations for safer sexual behavior. The third session, the behavioral skills component, focused on teaching the students how to effectively initiate and maintain safer sexual behavior in their own social environment and on influencing perceptions of self-efficacy and response efficacy. After 1 month, it appeared that the intervention significantly increased AIDS risk reduction information at the individual and group levels (p .0001). At the individual and group levels, it improved attitudes toward the performance of AIDS preventive acts (p .0001) and increased behavioral interventions to adopt preventive behaviors (p .0001 at individual level and p .059 at group level). The intervention significantly increased participants' perceptions of the effectiveness and ease with which they could enact critical AIDS preventive behaviors at both the individual and group levels. It also resulted in significant increases in condom accessibility, safer sex negotiations, and condom use during sexual intercourse at the individual and group levels. It had a significant effect on follow-up HIV testing at the individual level (p .05).

Evolution of college students' AIDS-related behavioral responses, attitudes, knowledge, and fear.

Data were collected (a) to document extant levels of AIDS-risk behavior, AIDS-preventive behavior, AIDS-knowledge, and attitudes toward prevention among college students, (b) to assess the evolution from 1986 to 1988 of college students' behavioral and attitudinal responses to the AIDS epidemic, and (c) to document changes over time in college students' knowledge about AIDS. Although students' current levels of AIDS-knowledge were found to be relatively high, and their attitudes toward prevention were in the neutral range, actual preventive behavior was low, and unsafe sexual practices were high. Concerning changes in these dimensions across time, data using comparable samples of undergraduates in 1986, 1987, and 1988 indicated that there were substantial increases in knowledge about AIDS, in the favorability of attitudes toward certain "safer-sex" behaviors (e.g., discussing "safer sex"), and in the utilization of relevant informational resources. Students' perceptions of others' vulnerability to AIDS (but not their own vulnerability), had also increased. However, at the same time, students reported a decrease in the safety of their sexual behaviors. Numbers of sexual partners, likelihood of being in an intimate (sexual) relationship, and unsafe sexual practices have all increased since 1986. Finally, evidence suggested that alcohol may play a significant role in students' AIDS-risk behavior.

PIP: A sample of 515 undergraduate college students from the University of Connecticut participated in 1986-88 this study of AIDs related attitudes and behavior. The justifications for collecting AIDs risk behaviors in a selected population were based on the need for an explanation for differences in HIV infection and AIDs incidence among population subgroups, and longitudinal changes in the rates of new infection within and between populations. Future levels of incidence can then be estimated. A wide range of sexual behaviors can be identified in order to generate mathematical modes of the spread of HIV infection, since present estimates are based on data statistics. Data on the incidence of AIDs risk behavior will determine the nature and extent of necessary behavior change interventions. The population sampled was predominately white (92.6%), single (98.8%), 18-19 year olds (77%), Roman Catholic (52%), and from white collar families (71.5%) who lived in dormitories (84%). The annual samples were highly comparable for race, religion, marital and occupational status, or political orientation based on Chi squared analyses. The 35-page questionnaire was given to students taking basic psychology. Questions dealt with types of relationships among students, AIDs risk behavior, preventive behavior, utilization of information services, knowledge, fear of AIDs, and contact with individuals with AIDs. The results indicate that the pattern of relationships has not changes among college students, except to increase sexual behavior and to engage in risk behaviors. More have sought information about AIDs and become more knowledgeable, but have not increased preventive behaviors. There is little contact with AIDs infected persons. The implications for AIDs education if that the focus needs to emphasize risk reduction behavior. More data is needed on what information is lacking, the identification of behavioral skills lacking, and the motivation to practice safer sex. Although condom use has increased somewhat, AIDs risk behavior has also increased. A 1989 American College Health Association survey found a surprising increase in college student HIV prevalence, which coupled with increased sexually risky behavior suggests concern for further HIV spread in the college population.