Effects of Social Influence on Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Fishbein and Ajzen\u27 s (1980) theory of reasoned action states that a health behavior is a direct result of behavioral intention. Behavioral intentions are comprised of two components: attitudes toward the action and subjective norms about the appropriateness of the action. This study investigated the role of subjective norms with regard to adolescent sexual behavior. It was hypothesized that sexual behavior will be strongly and positively related to the participants\u27 perceptions of important others\u27 beliefs regarding these behaviors. Data comes from a larger study, and is composed of 16 subjects, ages 15-18, both male and female. Participants completed 2 questionnaires, a social norms measure and a sex behavior survey. The social norms survey measured what participants believed those they consider to be important to them believed regarding appropriate sexual behavior. The sex behavior survey measured various sexual behaviors (sexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, and masturbation) and the use of contraception and sexually transmitted disease (STD) protection. A relationship was found between the beliefs of important others and oral and anal sexual behaviors, but significant results were not found for masturbation and contraception and STD prevention use. Such conclusions can have implications for targeting adolescents with regard to sexual behavior and contraception and STD prevention use

Male Adolescents\u27 Knowledge of Sexual Partners

Knowledge of one\u27s sexual partners is a potential factor in one\u27s perceptions of vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Adolescents may believe that they know more about their partners than they actually do. Having no information may be perceived as a person\u27s partner(s) not having risk factors for STDs. The current study investigated what a group of high-risk male adolescents actually knew about their partners and to what degree they were willing to admit that they did not know important risk information about their partners. The sample was 200 males between the ages of 13-17, primarily from a boys\u27 training school. The data for the study are from a larger study examining methods of collecting sensitive sexual information from adolescents and the factors that may influence their distortion of responses. The data to be presented are preliminary analyses of this larger data set. Participants were asked sexual behavior information and knowledge about sexual partners via one of three methods: (1) paper and pencil, (2) personal interview, or (3) computer interview. One set of questions deals with knowledge of sexual partners regarding information about sexual orientation, intravenous (IV) drug use, and whether they had or have an STD, including AIDS. One of the responses to these questions is I don\u27t know because I never asked. The results showed that this particular sample had a high level of risk behaviors. A significant portion of the sample admitted not knowing risk information about their partners. Specifically, three relationships were found between high-risk behavior and knowledge about partners

Prevalence and Etiology of Intracranial Hemorrhage in Term Children Under the Age of Two Years: A Retrospective Study of Computerized Tomographic Imaging and Clinical Outcome in 798 Children

Rationale and Objectives. The purposes of this study were to retrospectively identify various etiologies underlying intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs) in term infants aged 4 weeks presenting with ICHs, special attention should be given to the possibility of nonaccidental trauma etiology, because this is common and has worse long-term outcomes