HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and risky sexual behavior in adolescents: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey

Background

High incidence rates of HIV/AIDS infections among youth draw attention to the need for emphasizing the reduction of risky sexual behavior, a major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Few researchers have examined the relationship between self-efficacy for HIV/AIDS preventions, depressive symptoms, and adolescent risky sexual behavior. This insufficient understanding limits nurses’ ability to provide effective programs for reducing adolescents’ risky sexual behaviors.

Objectives

This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and risky sexual behavior in Taiwanese adolescents.

Design

A cross-sectional, correlational study.

Settings

Seven vocational high schools located in a metropolitan area in southern Taiwan.

Participants

A convenience sample of 16-18-year-old vocational high school Taiwanese adolescents (n = 734) participated in this study.

Methods

Several self-administrated questionnaires, including HIV/AIDS Preventive Self-efficacy scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, Safe Sex Behavior Questionnaire, and a form for demographic data, were used to collect data.

Results

Taiwanese adolescents who had higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy scores had less overall risky sexual behavior. Adolescents who had less depressive symptoms had higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. More depressive symptoms were correlated to more risky sexual behavior.

Conclusion

Improving Taiwanese adolescents’ HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy could be useful to reduce risky sexual behaviors in this population. Results of this study may assist nurses in understanding factors related to adolescents HIV/AIDS related risky sexual behavior and its’ preventions. However, future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether depressive symptoms is a major influential factor that might interfere with the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programs.