Abstracts Vol. 1 [International Conference on AIDS (11th: 1996: Vancouver, Canada)]

Track D: Social Science: Research, Policy & Action
leave (25%, 27% vs 32%, 35%). Soldiers were most likely to drink alcohol with sex with
casual partners in post-deployment situations, as compared with on post or on leave situations (6 1% vs 47%, 49%). African Americans were more likely than other soldiers to have
both regular and casual partners (50% vs 37%) and to have active duty soldiers as casual
partners (30% vs I 6%). Among the 5% of the soldiers who reported having an STD in the
past year positive associations were found with having both regular and casual partners and
having active duty soldiers as partners.A total of 75% of the soldiers reported having ever
received HIV education from the Army
Conclusions: Deployments and the periods following deployments are associated with risk
behaviors among soldiers in rapid deployment units. Partner selection patterns are related
to STD acquisition by this population.These data are of assistance in focusing intervention
efforts for this group.
Sid J. Schneider, Ph.D., H.M. Jackson Foundation, I Taft Court, Rockville, MD 20850 USA.Tel.:
301-294- I 880; Fax: [phone]
Mo.D. 1709
DETERMINANTS OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG
ADOLESCENTS
Meyer-Bahlburg, Heino F.L.*,Wasserman G*,Jaramillo B M*, Dolezal C L*, Sandberg D E**.
*NYSPI and Columbia Univ., NewYork, NY USA; **State Univ. of New York at Buffalo,
Buffalo, NY USA.
Objectives: In view of the increasingly pre- and peripubertal onset of sexual risk behavior,
especially in disadvantaged populations, to identify determinants of sexual behavior in several cohorts of children and young adolescents.
Methods: We studied sexual behavior and its determinants by a parent-administered Child
Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 199 I) in I 24 high-risk boys age 5-I I (survey I), 331 boys
age 6-10 (survey 2) and 355 girls of the same age from a community sample (survey 3),
and by a comprehensive parent- and child-administered interview protocol in 99 high-risk
boys (age 7- I 2) and their mothers (study 4).
Results: The high-risk boys and, less so, the community boys, but not the community girls,
had higher rates of both sexual and other problem behaviors than non-clinical norm samples. In surveys I -3, sexual problem behaviors were significantly related to other problem
behaviors, but not to age, ethnicity, or socio-economic level. In Study 4, a regression equation developed to predict antisocial behavior in high-risk boys also strongly predicted sexual
behavior; strongest predictors were parent-child conflict and parental psychopathology.
Sexuality-specific family predictors further contributed.
Conclusions: Sexual problem behaviors in childhood and early adolescence are associated
with psychopathologic symptoms and predicted to a marked extent by family predictors of
(non-sexual) antisocial behavior.These findings support a family orientation for programs to
reduce sexual risk behaviors in late childhood and early adolescence.
H.F.L Meyer-Bahlburg, NYSPI Unit 10, 722 West 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] email: [email protected]
Mo.D. 1710
SEXUAL-RISK ACTS, SEXUAL-IDENTITY STATUS,AND COMING OUT AMONG
GAY/LESBIAN/BISEXUAL ADOLESCENTS
Hunter Joyce, Rosario M, Dolezal C. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New
York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University, NewYork, NY, USA
Objective: To examine the relationships among sexual-risk acts, sexual-identity status, and
coming out.
Methods: Gay/lesbian/bisexual adolescents in NewYork City participated in a structured
interview to assess sexual risk acts during the past three months. Sexual-identity status was
defined as Achieved (high on exploration and commitment to a homosexual identity),
Moratorium (high on exploration but low on commitment), Foreclosed (low on exploration
and high on commitment), and Diffused (low on both). Coming out consisted of attitudes
towards homosexuality information about homosexuality disclosure of sexual identity to
others, and current sexual identity as gay/lesbian or bisexual.
Results: There were 76 females and 8I males, ages 14-2I (mean- 18.2). Males reported a
mean of 1.8 same-sex partners and females I1.3 same-sex partners.The mean number of
unprotected acts was 34.4 for males and 46.5 for females. Males who were achieved had
more same-sex partners (r=.24, p<.05) and more encounters (r=.21, p=-<.10). Achieved
females reported more same-sex encounters (r-=.30, p<.0I) and unprotected acts (r=.27,
p<. 10). Sexual-identity status and coming out were related. Achieved status was related to
positive attitudes toward own homosexuality (r=.27, p=<_.001 I), disclosure to others (r=. 18,
p=<.05), and self-identity as gay/lesbian vs. bisexual (r=.20, p<.05). Conversely, moratorium
status was related to negative attitudes toward own homosexuality (r=-.37, p<_.001), less
information about homosexualtiy (r=-.23, p=<.01I), low disclosure (r=-.24, p<.0I), and selfidentity as bisexual (r=-.40, p--<.001). Foreclosed status was related to positive attitudes
towards homosexuality (r=.35, p<.O0 I) and self-identity as gay/lesbian vs. bisexual (r-.23,
p<.OI).Youths who were diffused disclosed to fewer people (r-.22, p<.OI).
Conclusions: Gay/lesbian/bisexual adolescents are having unprotected sex and, thus,
require HIV prevention efforts. Sexual-identity status carries information about the
youths' sexual-risk acts.
J. Huntec HIV Center NYS Psychiatric Inst.-Unit 29, 722 West 168th St., NY NY 10032
Tel.: [phone] I; Fax: [phone]; e-mail: [email protected]
Mo.D.171 1
PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIOR IN MALE
COUPLES OF MIXED HIV STATUS
Remien, Robert H, Carballo-Dieguez A, Wagner G. HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral
Studies, NY State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University New York, NY USA.
Objectives: To assess prevalence and determinants of sexual risk behavior in male couples
of mixed (serodiscordant) HIV status.
Methods: We conducted in-depth semi-structured (individual and couple) interviews and

self-report assessments with 75 couples (N= I 50 men) to measure sex behavior, psychological functioning, and couple functioning. Mean age of participants was 36 years (sd=8 yrs;
range=22-66 yrs); median income was $32,500; 63% were Caucasian, 20% Latino and 16%
African American. Forty seven per cent of HIV + men had CD4+ cells<200. Mean length

Mo.D.1709 - Mo.D.1713
of relationship was 52 months (range-4mos.- I15 yrs.); 48% knew each others HIV status
prior to "commitment;" 23% were registered as domestic partners.
Results: Ninety-one percent (68) of the couples reported unprotected oral sex during the
past year; in 87% of these 68 couples, the HIV - partner was receptive on some of these
occasions. Forty-one percent (31) reported unprotected anal sex during the past year; in
36% of these couples, the HIV - partner was receptive on some of these occasions.While
only one couple reported that the HIV + partner had ejaculated into the HIV - partner's
rectum without the use of a condom, the majority of both HIV - and HIV + members of
the couples (87% and 81%, respectively) believed that the HIV- partner was at risk for HIV
transmission. Reasons given for engaging in sexual risk behavior included lack of communication about HIV or safer sex, desire for sexual pleasure and increased intimacy and a sense
of invincibility associated with a long-term and intimate relationship. Other variables associated with risk behavior included risk perception, health locus of control, dyadic consensus,
and dyadic satisfaction.
Conclusions: Significant levels of sexual risk behavior occurs in irntimate relationships with a
known and obvious risk for HIV transmission. Both individual and couple level factors
(including affective variables) must be addressed in evolving prevention strategies aimed at
long-term maintenance of safer sex behavior.These findings also highlight the need to intervene with couples to improve couple functioning, sexual satisfaction, and communication in
order to reduce sexual risk behavior without the loss of emotional intimacy.
Robert H. Remien, Ph.D., Unit 74 - NYSPI, 722 W. 68th St., NY NY 10032, USA
Tel.: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Mo.D.1712
PREDICTORS OF HIV/AIDS RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG HOMELESS MEN AND
WOMEN
Somlai, AM., Kelly J.A.,Wagstaff, D.A.,Whitson, D.P Center for AIDS Intervention Research
(CAIR), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee,Wl, USA
Objectives: This study describes the prevalence, frequency and nature of HIV risk behaviors
among homeless men and women living in a major midwestern population center
Information is provided on characteristic risk behaviors that contribute to HIV risk, as well
as psychological and gender related influences,
Methods: Extensive measures were administered to 107 individuals (males 66, females=4 I)
living in two homeless shelters to determine their levels of HIV risk behavior and predictors
of HIV risk practices. Assessment measures included; sexual and substance use behaviors, HIV
risk behavior knowledge scale, personal risk estimation, condom attitudes and barrier beliefs,
risk reduction behavioral intentions, negotiation skills, and quality of life.
Results: When categorized into "high" and "low" risk for HIV; age, gender; fatalism, satisfaction with life, condom attitudes, substance use, personal risk estimates, confidence (role
play) scale scores, and personal knowledge of someone with AIDS were all predictive of
risk level. For homeless men, age, condom use intentions and attitudes, and personal risk
were predictive of"higher" risk. Homeless women at "higher" risk were more likely to be
fatalistic, have a lowered satisfaction with life score, exhibit negative attitudes towards condom use, use alcohol and drugs, and not perceive their personal risk.
Conclusions: These findings indicate that l--IIV prevention efforts are urgently needed for
homeless men and women.These HIV prevention approaches should focus on increasing
perceived risk to HIV infection, managing risk related to alcohol use and o ther substances,
and vulnerability issues directly related to being homeless. HIV prevention interventions
need to be tailored regarding gender, homeless issues, quality of life, and HIV risk behaviors
unique to homeless populations at elevated risk.
Anton M. Somlai, Ed.D. 1201 N. Prospect Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202 Tel: [phone]
Mo.D.1713
HIV /AIDS RISK AMONG CHRONIC MENTALLY ILL ADULTS: PATTERNS,
PREDICTORS,AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN RISK
Stevenson, L.Y., Otto-Salaj, L.L., Heckman,TG., Kelly J.A. Center for AIDS Intervention
Research, Medical College of Wisconsin
Objectives: To characterize HIV risk behavior patterns (including gender differences) among
chronic mentally ill adults and to identify psychological and situational factors associated
with high levels of sexual risk behavion
Methods: One hundred twenty-five chronic mentally ill adults receiving services in urban
community-based mental health programs who were at risk for HIV through sexual or drug
use history were assessed on HIV risk behavior knowledge, sexual and drug use behavior,
risk situations encountered, self-esteem, substance use, and perceived risk for HIV infection.
A forward stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted to define predictors of levels
of risk. High-risk participants were defined as those who reported any unprotected vaginal
or anal sex in the past three months and low-risk participants as those who reported no
unprotected vaginal or anal sex in the three month period.
Results: Significant univariate predictors of HIV risk included: current relationship status with
respondents having regular sexual partners being less likely to use condoms even when the
regular partner had a concurrent outside relationship and the participant had been treated
for a sexually transmitted disease (p<.O001); weaker risk reduction behavioral intentions (p
<.00 1); higher perceived risk for HIV (p<.0005); gende with women having more frequent
unprotected intercourse, more coercive sex, and more often engaging in survival sex
(p<.05); and substance use prior to sex (p <.10).
Conclusions: HIV prevention efforts are needed to correct misconceptions, address substance use and HIV risk, strengthen risk reduction behavioral intentions, self-eftcacy and skills
among the chronic mentally ill in the context of relationships as well as casual partnerships.
L.Yvonne Stevenson, Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR), Medical College of
Wisconsin, 1201 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee,WI 53202, U.S.A. Phone: [phone], Fax:
414-287-4683,O
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