The long-term impact of AIDS-preventive interventions for delinquent and abused adolescents.
This study examines whether cognitive/behavioral interventions that produced immediate changes in AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and intentions for coping with AIDS-risk situations among delinquents and abused adolescents, are capable of producing long-term benefits assessed at 9-12 months follow-up. Adolescents (N = 218) from 15 residential centers received an intensive nine-session HIV prevention program. Centers were randomly assigned to skills training, discussion-only, or control groups. Results showed that one intervention model, discussion groups, produced a long-term increase in knowledge about AIDS and higher reported intentions to cope with AIDS-risk situations. However, both skills-training and discussion groups did not produce a long-term reduction in the level of engagement in high-risk behaviors. Several reasons for these results are discussed, with emphasis on an explanation based on the theoretical perspective of life chances or life options.
Slonim-Nevo
V
V
George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Auslander
W F
WF
Ozawa
M N
MN
Jung
K G
KG
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011594:Psychometrics; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016896:Treatment Outcome