A BEHAVIORAL-ECOLOGICAL MODEL OF ADOLESCENT SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT - A TEMPLATE FOR AIDS-PREVENTION

Medical and health educational services are insufficient to control AI DS risk behavior. A new conceptual model that can guide more effective behavioral change strategies for whole communities is required to mod ify sexual practices and control the AIDS epidemic. We integrated lear ning theories with an ecological model to create a behavioral-ecologic al conceptual model of sexual risk behavior. We assumed a developmenta l process of learning and ongoing social influence. Contingencies of r einforcement and other motivational variables operate among sexual par tners, their peers, and family networks in the context of culture. Our model hierarchically arrays learning processes within common social i nstitutions (e.g., schools). Making appropriate changes in numerous so cial institutions concurrently may culminate in sufficient change in t heoretical independent variables to establish safer sexual practices i n whole communities. Application to adolescents' sexual development is used to illustrate this model. The behavioral-ecological model sugges ts that multiple interventions, with emphasis on change in social netw orks, is necessary to control the AIDS epidemic. If this model is corr ect, traditional education interventions will fail to ensure safer sex ual practices among adolescents and adults.