Risk perception of students concerning HIV infection

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.