In search of a psychology of safer-sex promotion; beyond beliefs and texts. 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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In search of a psychology of safer-sex promotion; beyond beliefs and texts.

Health Educ Res. 1993 Jun;8(2):245-54. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/93905337
Abraham C; Sheeran P; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Dundee,; UK.

Abstract: Belief and attitudinal change are important to the promotion of safer sexual behaviour. However, the individual decision-making psychology implicit in belief-change models provides only a partial picture of the determinants of sexual behaviour. A broader psychological understanding emphasizing the complex social skills involved in regulating sexual interaction is advocated. A discourse analysis critique of the viability of characterizing individuals' psychology on the basis of verbal responses is discussed and it is noted that psychological models linking such responses to underlying beliefs and cognitions must be based on measures which accurately predict health behaviour. It is concluded that an interactive model incorporating personal, interpersonal and situational constraints on sexual behaviour could be used to design effective programmes addressing barriers to HIV protection. Such interventions would promote communication and sexual negotiating skills and could be included in school curricula. This would have radical implications for sex education, shifting its theoretical basis from biology to social psychology and its methods from information-giving to participation and practice.
Keywords: *Health Education/METHODS *Health Promotion/METHODS *Models, Psychological *Sex BehaviorKWDhealtheducation/methodsKWDhealthpromotion/methodsKWDmodels,psychologicalKWDsexbehavior
931130
M93B5845

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

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