P. Timmins et al., SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT HIV AIDS AND PERCEIVED RISK OF INFECTIONAMONG HETEROSEXUAL YOUNG-ADULTS - 1989 AND 1994/, Australian journal of social issues, 33(2), 1998, pp. 179-198
This paper reports a study of sources of information about HIV/AIDS an
d trust of the sources among heterosexuals in 1989 (113 females and 91
males) and 1994 (185 females and 66 males). We also examined whether
perceived personal risk of HIV infection was predicted by sources of i
nformation about HIV/AIDS, trust of the sources, how informed about AI
DS people believed they were, and perceived risk of infection to other
s, as well as whether there was a relationship between perceived perso
nal risk and safe sex behaviour Participants received most of their in
formation about AIDS/HIV from magazines, newspapers, and television, b
ut placed most trust on sources such as doctors and HIV/AIDS organisat
ions. Perceived personal risk was influenced most by perceived risk to
friends and to people with the same sexual practices. In the 1994 sam
ple, perceived personal risk was correlated with the amount of condom
use among participants with sexual experience. These results indicate
ther has been. relative stability across a five-year period. They also
point to the continuing discrepancy among young heterosexuals between
the most-used and most-trusted sources of information, as well as to
the importance of peer influence on perceptions of personal risk of HI
V infection.