ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES IN THE PSYCHOSOCIAL ANTECEDENTS OF NEEDLE SYRINGE DISINFECTION

This study examined psychosocial antecedents of needle/syringe disinfe ction by 209 injection drug users in three ethnic groups. Among Whites , high perceived self-efficacy for risk reduction had a positive effec t on subsequent disinfection attempts. Among African Americans and Mex ican Americans, peer norms favorable to risk reduction had a positive effect on subsequent disinfection attempts, while self-efficacy had no effect. These results suggest that risk-reduction capabilities may be rooted in individualistic perceptions of the self among White drug us ers, while 'collective self' perceptions are more relevant to these ca pabilities among African American and Mexican American drug users. HIV risk intervention may have more impact in specific ethnic groups if t hese distinctions are taken into account. Results also demonstrate the importance of comparing models of behavior change across ethnic group s.