Cognitive and emotional assessments of perceived risk for HIV among unmarried heterosexuals.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Cognitive and emotional assessments of perceived risk for HIV among unmarried heterosexuals.

AIDS Educ Prev. 1996 Aug;8(4):294-307. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/97028634
Dolcini MM; Catania JA; Choi KH; Fullilove MT; Coates TJ; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94105,; USA.

Abstract: We examined perceived risk of contracting HIV using assessments of likelihood and worry in a probability sample of unmarried heterosexuals. Perceptions of the likelihood of contracting HIV and worry about HIV were only modestly correlated (r = .23), suggesting that they are different constructs. Far more respondents expressed worry (43%) than expressed the belief that they were at risk for HIV (9%). A significant proportion of the sample reported experiences that may have placed them at risk for HIV transmission. Demographic and psychosocial correlates of perceived likelihood and worry were examined in separate multivariate logistic analyses. Misconceptions about HIV transmission, a history of injection-drug-using sexual partners, and less education were associated with higher perceived likelihood of contracting HIV. Misconceptions, having multiple sexual partners in the past year, and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were associated with high worry about HIV. Implications of the findings for correcting HIV-related misconceptions are discussed.

Keywords: *HIV Infections/PSYCHOLOGY *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice *Sexuality *Single Person/PSYCHOLOGY
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