title: A developmental model for risk avoidance in adolescents confronting AIDS.
abstract: Epidemiologic studies indicate that HIV infection is on the rise within the adolescent population. Much of this increase has been attributed to the teenager's developmental proclivity for risk-taking behavior. Intervention programs designed to curtail high-risk behaviour among adolescents have focused primarily on educational methods alerting teenagers to modes of disease transmission. Among these programs, demonstration and role-playing techniques have shown promise, but have not significantly modified behavior patterns. In contrast, a new developmental technique known as previewing advocates the use of representation and enactment to promote risk deterrence. Previewing may serve as a productive alternative to traditional interventions, since it directly addresses the adolescent's cognitive limitations with regard to the prediction of behavioral outcomes. This paper recommends a prevention model using previewing that is designed to lower the incidence of AIDS transmission among adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Outpatient Department, Cornell University Medical Center, Westchester Division, White Plains, New York 10605.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Trad
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation