Personal value structures and AIDS prevention. Are safe-sex messages reaching high risk groups or merely preaching to the converted?

Abstract

After a decade, years of battling acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the spread of this disease still represents one of the most important issues facing health care officials today. Even though many individuals have changed their sexual behavior since becoming aware of AIDS, a group of high-risk young adults has not. The authors explore the relationship between personal value structures and low-risk vs. high-risk sexual behavior. The findings offer health care officials insight into effectively targeting AIDS prevention communications to the high-risk segment.