Real and illusory control over exposure to HIV in college students and gaymen

Reasons for unsafe sex were examined using an illusions of control framewor k. Heterosexual college students (N = 301) and gay men (N = 248) were surve yed regarding perceived control over exposure to HIV, of vulnerability to H IV, use of illusory control in chance situations, and real and illusory str ategies for protection against HIV. As predicted, the use of illusory contr ol in chance situations was associated with more illusory HIV protection in both samples. Illusory protection strategies were associated with feeling less vulnerable to HIV which was mediated by perceptions of control over ex posure to HIV. Suggestions for intervention include providing information a bout the illusory nature of some protective strategies and a focus on faili ng to protect oneself from STDs.