LEVEL OF EDUCATION, SEXUAL PROMISCUITY, AND AIDS

A disturbing development in the past decade has been the dramatic rise in the incidence of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). One po pular view is that people with higher educational attainment are at lo wer risk for AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than those with less schooling. The present study, using data from a nation al survey of the United States, reports the findings from two studies that indicate the popular view is incorrect. The results from Study 1 indicated that educational attainment had a statistically significant indirect effect on promiscuous sexual behavior through its impact on l iberal sexual attitudes. Thus educated people have more liberal dispos itions toward premarital sex than those with less schooling and this a ttitude promotes frequent sex with multiple partners. Study 2 focused on the implications of high-risk sexual practices for the incidence of AIDS in a population. It was found that the incidence of AIDS in a re gion is partly explained by the educational attainment, liberal sexual orientation, and the promiscuous sexual practices of the population. Overall, the results indicated that the level of education in a popula tion indirectly increased the incidence of AIDS. Finally, the implicat ions for educational policy are discussed.