Gender, Knowledge about AIDS, Reported Behavioral Change, and the Sexual Behavior of College Students

Abstract

This article reports on an analysis of the relationships among knowledge about AIDS, self-reported changes in sexual behavior, and independent measures of those behaviors—condom use, coital frequency, and number of partners. The sample consisted of 195 sexually active, heterosexual college students attending a northeastern state university in spring 1988. With other relevant variables held constant, statistically significant associations in the predicted direction were found between knowledge and reported change and each of the dependent variables among the men, especially the men not involved in relationships. Among women, however, the only significant association was that between reporting the beginning of condom use and the frequency with which condoms were used in the past year. Possible reasons for these gender differences are discussed.