COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL ASSESSMENTS OF PERCEIVED RISK FOR HIV AMONG UNMARRIED HETEROSEXUALS

We examined perceived risk of contracting HIV using assessments of lik elihood and worry in a probability sample of unmarried heterosexuals. Perceptions of the likelihood of contracting HIV and worry about HIV w ere only modestly correlated (r = .23), suggesting that they are diffe rent constructs. Far more respondents expressed worry (43%) than expre ssed the belief that they were at risk for HIV (9%). A significant pro portion of the sample reported experiences that may have placed them a t risk for HIV transmission Demographic and psychosocial correlates of perceived likelihood and worry were examined in separate multivariate logistic analyses. Misconceptions about HIV transmission, a history o f injection-drug-using sexual partners, and less education were associ ated with higher perceived likelihood of contracting HN. Misconception s, having multiple sexual partners in the past year, and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were associated with high worry a bout HIV. Implications of the findings for correcting HN-related misco nceptions are discussed.