Changes in AIDS risk behaviors among homosexual male physicians and university students

Two samples of homosexual men, 64 physicians and 58 university students, reported profound decreases in several sexual practices linked to transmission of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The physicians showed the greater reduction. When sociodemographic variables, health beliefs, feeling of control over outcome, mood, sexual interest before the AIDS epidemic, and medical care utilization were correlated with decrease and/or increase in AIDS risk behaviors, the clusters of variables most strongly correlated with change in risk behaviors differed between the physicians and students. Interventions designed to change behaviors in AIDS high-risk groups should be tailored for specific subgroups.