Research Article

The influence of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus perceived susceptibility patterns on sexual risk reduction for adolescent females

  1. Trace S. Kershaw1,*,
  2. Kathleen A. Ethier2,
  3. Stephanie Milan1,
  4. Jessica B. Lewis1,
  5. Linda M. Niccolai1,
  6. Christina Meade1,
  7. Jeannette R. Ickovics1

Article first published online: 24 MAR 2005

DOI: 10.1002/jcop.20056

Issue

Journal of Community Psychology

Journal of Community Psychology

Volume 33, Issue 3, pages 313–331, May 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kershaw, T. S., Ethier, K. A., Milan, S., Lewis, J. B., Niccolai, L. M., Meade, C. and Ickovics, J. R. (2005), The influence of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and human immunodeficiency virus perceived susceptibility patterns on sexual risk reduction for adolescent females. J. Community Psychol., 33: 313–331. doi: 10.1002/jcop.20056

Author Information

  1. 1

    Yale University

  2. 2

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

*Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 MAR 2005
  2. Article first published online: 24 MAR 2005

Funded by

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Grant Numbers: P01 MH/DA 56826–01A1, 1T32 MH20031–02

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (310K)

Abstract

Risky sexual behavior can lead to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our study of 300 adolescent females takes an integrative approach by incorporating these multiple outcomes to assess the influence of risk perceptions on sexual behavior by (1) identifying subgroups of perceived susceptibility to pregnancy, STDs, and HIV using cluster analysis and (2) comparing subgroups on demographics, sexual history, sexual risk behavior over time, and subsequent STD acquisition. Results demonstrated five perceived susceptibility clusters (no susceptibility; high HIV; high pregnancy; high STD; and high multisusceptibility) that differed in three important ways: demographic and sexual history profiles, current sexual risk behavior, and subsequent STDs. Young women in the no susceptibility cluster had the lowest sexual risk and those in the high multisusceptibility cluster had the highest sexual risk and the highest number of subsequent STDs. There were no significant changes in sexual risk over time, regardless of cluster. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 313–331, 2005.

Get PDF (310K)