Proposed is a multidimensional educational intervention to reduce behavior related to risk of HIV transmission in a population of college students. Students enrolled at the Newark and Camden campuses of Rutgers University in New Jersey will be targeted. The intervention will utilize principles from social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) in order to enhance behavioral change in addition to increasing knowledge. Major components of the intervention include a) student volunteers to lead informational discussions and stage role-plays at student centers and dormitories; b) videotaped role plays demonstrating strategies for overcoming social pressures to avoid the practice of safer sex in several relevant populations; c) dramatic enactments of social situations relevant to risk- reducing behaviors, performed by a professional acting group; and d) dissemination of informational audio tapes, radio and newspaper ads and written material. The intervention will be assessed in several ways, including anonymous large-scale surveys and non- anonymous small-scales surveys conducted on the Rutgers-Newark campus and on a control campus; quantitation of condom sales on campus and locally; and HIV seroprevalence and STD incidence. Subsequent analyses will examine possible psychological mediation by perceived self-efficacy to take self-protective action; perceived vulnerability to infection; perceived efficacy of risk- reducing behaviors; degree of peer support for safer behavior; and self-esteem.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH045238-03
Application #
3384922
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRC)
Project Start
1988-09-30
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1990-09-01
Budget End
1991-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rutgers University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
038633251
City
New Brunswick
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08901
O'Leary, A; Jemmott, L S; Goodhart, F et al. (1996) Effects of an institutional AIDS prevention intervention: moderation by gender. AIDS Educ Prev 8:516-28
O'Leary, A (1994) Factors associated with sexual risk of AIDS in women. NIDA Res Monogr 143:64-81
O'Leary, A; Goodhart, F; Jemmott, L S et al. (1992) Predictors of safer sex on the college campus: a social cognitive theory analysis. J Am Coll Health 40:254-63
O'Leary, A (1990) Stress, emotion, and human immune function. Psychol Bull 108:363-82