Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

560

Date

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Concentration

General Psychology

Committee Chair

James Murphy

Committee Member

Theresa Montgomery Okwumabua

Committee Member

David A Houston

Abstract

This cross-sectional study characterizes a group of high-risk youth's HIV knowledge (Brief HIV-KQ) and cognitions (maladaptive, coping appraisal, and adaptive cognitions), as well as aspects of their sexual behavior and condom use. Descriptive statistics and regressions were used to analyze archival data collected from 794 youth (46.3% male and 53.7% female) ages 16–24 (M = 18.66; SD = 1.95) who attended an educational and vocational training program in a large urban area of the Mid-South. Results indicate that these youth were twice as sexually active as the national average yet used condoms more frequently. There were gender and age differences in sexual behaviors, condom use, and HIV knowledge. Future interventions with these youth should be directed toward correcting knowledge deficits and increasing risk perception and behavioral skills acquisition.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Download

Share

COinS