PSYCHODYNAMIC GROUP-THERAPY WITH ADOLESCENTS - EXPLORATION OF HIV-RELATED RISK-TAKING

Recent research shows that adolescents are a high-risk group for HIV i nfection, and that educational campaigns designed to reduce risk takin g concerning HIV/AIDS have been largely ineffective with this populati on. It is probable that irrational psychodynamic processes underlie th is risky behavior. In order to explore these behaviors, a sample of lo w-risk high-school adolescents and one of high-risk institutionalized juvenile offenders were formed into small groups for psychodynamic gro up therapy. This article presents preliminary findings based on qualit ative analysis of the group process. Several sources of participants' difficulties in forming realistic appraisals of HIV/AIDS risk and of a cting in accordance with them were unidentified especially attempts to cope with experiences of loss, developing sexuality, and sexual ident ity and changing relations with adults. Certain problems were developm entally salient with all adolescents, whereas others were especially m arked for the high-risk population of developmentally disturbed adoles cents.