Misperceived risk among female adolescents: social and psychological factors associated with sexual risk accuracy.
This study of 411 urban female adolescents had 3 objectives: (a) assess the relationship between perceived risk and sexual risk behavior (condom use, number of partners, partner risk, presence of STDs, and aggregate sexual risk), (b) assess the accuracy of risk perceptions, and (c) identify variables related to inaccurate sexual risk perceptions. Participants were classified as accurate or inaccurate risk perceivers on the basis of actual sexual behavior and perceived risk. Accurate versus inaccurate risk perceivers were compared on psychological maintenance variables (self-esteem, distress, and coping), relationship context variables (partnership duration and pressure to have unprotected sex), and risk knowledge at different levels of sexual risk. Approximately half of the participants underestimated the risk of their sexual behavior. Accurate and inaccurate risk perceivers differed on risk knowledge, partnership duration, and pressure to have unprotected sex.
Kershaw
Trace S
TS
Yale University, School of Medicine, Dept of Epidemiology & Public Health, Ctr for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. trace.kershaw@yale.edu
Ethier
Kathleen A
KA
Niccolai
Linda M
LM
Lewis
Jessica B
JB
Ickovics
Jeannette R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011593:Psychology, Social; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D014505:Urban Population