Abstract

This meta-analysis tested the major theoretical assumptions about behavior change by examining the outcomes and mediating mechanisms of different preventive strategies in a sample of 354 HIV-prevention interventions and 99 control groups, spanning the past 17 years. There were 2 main conclusions from this extensive review. First, the most effective interventions were those that contained attitudinal arguments, educational information, behavioral skills arguments, and behavioral skills training, whereas the least effective ones were those that attempted to induce fear of HIV. Second, the impact of the interventions and the different strategies behind them was contingent on the gender, age, ethnicity, risk group, and past condom use of the target audience in ways that illuminate the direction of future preventive efforts.

Keywords

Psychological interventionCondomBehavior changePsychologyEthnic groupTest (biology)Social psychologyBehavior change communicationSample (material)Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Developmental psychologyClinical psychologyApplied psychologyMedicineEnvironmental healthFamily medicineSociologyResearch methodologyPsychiatry

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Publication Info

Year
2005
Type
review
Volume
131
Issue
6
Pages
856-897
Citations
795
Access
Closed

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Dolores Albarracín, Jeffrey C. Gillette, Allison Earl et al. (2005). A Test of Major Assumptions About Behavior Change: A Comprehensive Look at the Effects of Passive and Active HIV-Prevention Interventions Since the Beginning of the Epidemic.. Psychological Bulletin , 131 (6) , 856-897. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.856

Identifiers

DOI
10.1037/0033-2909.131.6.856