Psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus infection, among urban high school students

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of multiple psychosocial and knowledge-related antecedent factors that may predict sexual and alcohol and drug use behaviors that are associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus infection. Five hundred forty-four ninth-grade urban high school students were surveyed regarding knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to STDs and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Results of multiple regression analyses indicate that higher levels of STD and AIDS knowledge were associated with lower levels of STD and AIDS anxiety (R2 delta = 0.09; p less than 0.001), fewer negative attitudes toward people with AIDS (R2 delta = 0.09; p less than 0.001), stronger perceptions of self-efficacy (R2 delta = 0.03; p less than 0.01), and stronger peer affiliation (R2 delta = 0.02; p less than 0.05). Negative attitudes toward people with AIDS were inversely related to knowledge (R2 delta = 0.08; p less than 0.001), social support (R2 delta = 0.02; p less than 0.01), and perceived self-efficacy (R2 delta = 0.01; p less than 0.05). Predictors of alcohol and drug use included perceived peer norms (R2 delta = 0.08; p less than 0.001) and strong peer affiliation (R2 delta = 0.05; p less than 0.001). The best predictor of sexual risk behavior was alcohol and drug use (R2 delta = 0.07; p less than 0.001). Lower levels of knowledge (R2 delta = 0.14; p less than 0.01) and perceived peer norms (R2 delta = 0.05; p less than 0.05) predicted nonuse of condoms. Our results indicate that several factors relate to adolescent risk for STDs: the connection between peer influence and adolescent risk behaviors, the link between alcohol and drug use and sexual risk behavior, and the role of knowledge in determining nonuse of condoms.

PIP: This study evaluated the impact of psychosocial and knowledge-related antecedent factors on adolescents' sexual, alcohol-use, and drug-use behaviors associated with the transmission of STDs, including HIV. Additionally, the study examined the role of peer influences in determining STD and HIV risk behaviors, relative to knowledge and other psychosocial factors. Researchers surveyed 544 freshmen (9th graders) at 4 urban high schools, collecting the data through anonymous, self-administered questionnaires. The report provides a tabulation of the students' demographic and other characteristics. In order to analyze the data, the researchers employed a multiple regression model. The results of this analysis indicates that higher levels of STD and AIDS knowledge were associated with lower levels of STD and AIDS anxiety, fewer negative attitudes towards people with AIDS, stronger perceptions of self-efficacy in preventing infection, and stronger peer affiliation. Moreover, negative attitudes toward people with AIDS were inversely related to knowledge, social support, and perceived self-efficacy. The study also found that perceived peer norms and strong peer affiliation served as predictors of alcohol and drug use, while lower levels of knowledge and perceived peer norms served as predictors for nonuse of condoms. The findings of this study reveal several factors related to adolescents' risk of acquiring STDs: the connection between peer influence and adolescent risk behaviors, the relationship between the use of alcohol and drugs and sexual risk behavior, and the role of knowledge in determining the specific risk behavior of nonuse of condoms.