A developmental model for risk avoidance in adolescents confronting AIDS.
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.
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Child and Adolescent Outpatient Department, Cornell University Medical Center, Westchester Division, White Plains, New York 10605.
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