title: HIV risk-related attitudes, interpersonal influences, and intentions among at-risk urban, early adolescent girls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine correlates of sexual experimentation and risk among urban, early adolescent girls (N=236, 12.38+/-1.2 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures of HIV risk-related attitudes, interpersonal influences, and intentions were compared based on girls' degree of sexual experimentation and risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Girls in high sexual experimentation and risk groups scored highest on deviant peer norms; endorsements of risky behaviors; and inability to refuse unprotected sex, offset negative partner influences, avoid intercourse, and assert sexual desires. Greater experimentation occurred among girls with older versus same-age or younger partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk correlates should be considered in designing HIV prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY 10027, USA. jd201@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Di Noia
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Schinke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012945:Social Values; D014504:Urban Health