Homophobic attitudes and AIDS risk behavior of adolescents

Adolescents in the United States are increasingly knowledgeable about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), yet they are notoriously resistant to behavioral changes that would reduce their personal risk, such as practicing abstinence, using condoms, or careful selection of sexual partners. For the present study, we asked 80 heterosexual adolescents about their sexual behavior and intentions to avoid risky behavior, in conjunction with assessing their knowledge and attitudes concerning AIDS and AIDS-related issues. The results suggest that many adolescents do not feel vulnerable to AIDS because they still see AIDS as a Gay disease. Those who are most prejudiced against Gays are, on average, five times more willing to engage in indiscriminant sex as are the least prejudiced group; among males, this effect is even greater. In addition, highly prejudiced adolescents are twice as willing to have sex without using a condom. This study indicates the importance of dealing with homophobic attitudes in the context of AIDS education.