Maintenance of behavioral change in a cohort of homosexually active men [see comments] NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Maintenance of behavioral change in a cohort of homosexually active men [see comments]

AIDS. 1992 Aug;6(8):861-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93039872
McCusker J; Stoddard AM; McDonald M; Zapka JG; Mayer KH; AIDS Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of; Massachusetts, Amherst 01003.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess associations of perceptions of sexual behavior change with actual risk behaviors and psychosocial variables, and to determine whether perceptions of behavior change predict subsequent behavior. DESIGN: Cohort study of homosexually active men. SETTING: Community health center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and sixty-two cohort members who participated in follow-up in 1989 and who had at least one subsequent visit. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Composite risk behavior variable, based on unprotected anogenital contact and number of partners. RESULTS: Of the 96% who had effected behavior change, 47% perceived that they were able to maintain those changes consistently and 58% wanted to make more changes. Perceptions of consistent maintenance were associated with lower risk behavior, lower perceived riskiness of behaviors and susceptibility to AIDS, and fewer barriers to behavior change. Desire for more change was associated with increased behavioral effort, fewer barriers to condom use, and greater perceived riskiness of current behavior. Among those with lower risk behaviors, perceived inconsistent maintenance predicted relapse to more risky behavior at the following visit. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived maintenance of behavior change is potentially useful in identifying individuals at risk of relapse from safer sex.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PREVENTION & CONTROL Adult *Choice Behavior Cross-Sectional Studies Homosexuality/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA Human Longitudinal Studies Male Middle Age Risk-Taking Sex Behavior/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/prevention&controladultKWDchoicebehaviorcross-sectionalstudieshomosexuality/KWDstatistics&numerdatahumanlongitudinalstudiesmalemiddleagerisk-takingsexbehavior/KWDstatistics&numerdatasupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tjournalarticle
Comment in: AIDS 1992 Aug;6(8):875-7
930228
M9320823

Copyright © 1993 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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