ADOLESCENTS PERCEIVED RISK FOR STDS AND HIV-INFECTION

Purpose: (1) To determine whether adolescents systematically underesti mate their relative risk for STDs and HIV; and (2) to determine to wha t extent anxiety about STDs and HIV, past condom use, number of lifeti me partners and STD/HIV-related beliefs predict perceived relative ris k. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-one sexually experienced, racially diverse, urban high school teenagers (mean age = 15.5 years; 53% male) were surveyed regarding their STD/HIV-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Results: The subjects did not perceive themselves to be at lower risk compared to their perceptions of the risk of other people their age for STDs or HIV. Using hierarchical multiple linear regressi on analysis, perceptions of lower relative risk for STDs and for HIV w ere predicted by higher levels of anxiety (p < .001) but not by past c ondom use, number of lifetime partners or STD/HIV-related beliefs (p > .05). Conclusions: Adolescents' perceptions of risk appear to be rela ted to anxiety about STDs and HIV and their behaviors may be related t o peer influences and attitudes toward using condoms.