REINFORCEMENT VALUE OF UNSAFE SEX AS A PREDICTOR OF CONDOM USE AND CONTINUED HIV AIDS RISK BEHAVIOR AMONG GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN/

The pleasure or reinforcement value of high-risk sex may be an importa nt influence on success in risk reduction efforts, Seronegative gay an d bisexual men (N = 297) completed measures assessing their unprotecte d and safer sex practices, as well as measures of cognitive and skill factors and a measure assessing the subjective reinforcement value of unprotected anal intercourse. Regression analyses showed that the rein forcement value of unprotected anal intercourse accounted for variance in predicting levels of condom use above that that could be accounted for by factors such as knowledge, behavior change intentions, perceiv ed vulnerability, condom attitudes, and sexual communication skills. O nly reinforcement value of unprotected sex and substance use significa ntly predicted how frequently participants engaged in high-risk sex. I ncreased attention to the valence of sexual reinforcers will improve H IV risk reduction models and enhance AIDS prevention efforts.