Developmental status and AIDS attitudes in adolescence.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Researchers hypothesized that the development of consistently responsible attitudes among adolescents and young adults toward the prevention of HIV infection follows a pattern similar to that of developing a sense of identity. In the hope of gaining information useful for future education program interventions, they therefore explored attitudes regarding AIDS precautions among a group of youths aged 18-25 years with consideration of their developmental level. They conceptualized attitudes toward AIDS, developed items reflecting diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and achievement statuses in development, and assessed their relationships to identity and intimacy, while predicting overall that general maturity, as measured by high identity and intimacy, would relate positively to precautionary attitudes toward AIDS. 67 male and 195 female 1st- and 2nd-year college students volunteered to respond to 2 questionnaires on identity and intimacy formation, and attitudes toward AIDS. While asked if they expected to use a condom the next time they had sexual intercourse, respondents were not questioned about actual sexual behavior. Little relationship was found between AIDS attitudes and psychosocial development. Identity status and attitudes toward AIDS precautions were, however, predictive of future intention to use a condom. Intimacy level was negatively related to intended condom use, suggesting that those in long-term monogamous relationships, or those searching for them, might fail to see the need for protection against HIV infection. Such persons may constitute a special population at risk for AIDS.