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Risk perception of students concerning HIV infection

Stucki, Lorentz (2003)
Department of Psychology
Abstract
The present article deals with the risk perception of students within the field of HIV and AIDS. A questionnaire study with a 2 x 2 x 2 experimental design was conducted in order to assess the perceived risk of contracting HIV. The goal of the questionnaires was to measure the possible influence with regard to the texts (HIV prevention versus HIV causes economical problems in Africa), the optimistic bias (I myself in the situation vs. someone else in the situation) and gender. A further investigation concerned the manner of integration of information about the number of sexual partners and the safety of sex. The results suggested no difference between the 2 texts. No optimistic bias was found. In fact, men felt more at risk if it concerned... (More)
The present article deals with the risk perception of students within the field of HIV and AIDS. A questionnaire study with a 2 x 2 x 2 experimental design was conducted in order to assess the perceived risk of contracting HIV. The goal of the questionnaires was to measure the possible influence with regard to the texts (HIV prevention versus HIV causes economical problems in Africa), the optimistic bias (I myself in the situation vs. someone else in the situation) and gender. A further investigation concerned the manner of integration of information about the number of sexual partners and the safety of sex. The results suggested no difference between the 2 texts. No optimistic bias was found. In fact, men felt more at risk if it concerned themselves rather than someone else, a reversal of an optimistic bias, while women tended to make little or no differentiation. On the other hand, female participants perceived the risk of becoming infected with HIV higher than males did. The given information was integrated in a multiplicative way. All information was important, influenced each other and helped to form the risk perception. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Stucki, Lorentz
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Psychology, Psykologi
language
English
id
1356430
date added to LUP
2004-11-08 00:00:00
date last changed
2004-11-08 00:00:00
@misc{1356430,
  abstract     = {{The present article deals with the risk perception of students within the field of HIV and AIDS. A questionnaire study with a 2 x 2 x 2 experimental design was conducted in order to assess the perceived risk of contracting HIV. The goal of the questionnaires was to measure the possible influence with regard to the texts (HIV prevention versus HIV causes economical problems in Africa), the optimistic bias (I myself in the situation vs. someone else in the situation) and gender. A further investigation concerned the manner of integration of information about the number of sexual partners and the safety of sex. The results suggested no difference between the 2 texts. No optimistic bias was found. In fact, men felt more at risk if it concerned themselves rather than someone else, a reversal of an optimistic bias, while women tended to make little or no differentiation. On the other hand, female participants perceived the risk of becoming infected with HIV higher than males did. The given information was integrated in a multiplicative way. All information was important, influenced each other and helped to form the risk perception.}},
  author       = {{Stucki, Lorentz}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Risk perception of students concerning HIV infection}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}