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AIDS on Campus: A Preliminary Study of College Students' Knowledge and Behaviors
Author(s) -
GRAY LIZBETH A.,
SARACINO MARIE
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of counseling and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1556-6676
pISSN - 0748-9633
DOI - 10.1002/j.1556-6676.1989.tb01357.x
Subject(s) - casual , sexual behavior , psychology , perception , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , clinical psychology , family medicine , sexual contact , social psychology , medicine , medical education , materials science , gonorrhea , neuroscience , composite material
This preliminary study examined the possible relationship between knowledge about AIDS, subjective perception of the risk of contracting AIDS, and sexual behavior in a sample of undergraduate college students (N = 459). The majority of the students indicated that AIDS was not an issue of personal concern. Students were generally informed about AIDS, although one‐third of the students were unclear about the transmission of the disease through casual contact. Data analysis indicated that no relationship existed between accurate knowledge about AIDS and sexual behavior. The relationship between self‐assessment of personal risk for AIDS and reduced sexual contacts was found to be significant at the .01 level. Recommendations are made regarding AIDS educational and counseling approaches among college students. Please note that the term AIDS is used to represent the presence of HIV antibodies, AIDS‐related complex (ARC), and diagnosed AIDS.