Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine Rogers' protection motivation theory and aspects of Janis and Mann's conflict theory in the context of AIDS-related health behavior. Subjects were 84 heterosexual men and women and 147 homosexual men with multiple sexual partners; LISREL's path-analysis techniques were used to evaluate the goodness of fit of the structural equation models. Protection motivation theory did fit the data but had considerably more explanatory power for heterosexual than for homosexual subjects (49 vs. 22%, respectively). When coping styles were added, different patterns of findings were found among both groups. Adding variables such as social norms and previous behavior increased the explained variance to 73% for heterosexual subjects and to 44% for homosexual subjects. It was concluded that although protection motivation theory did fit the data fairly adequately, expanding the theory with other variables-especially those related to previous behavior-could improve our understanding of AIDS-related health behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bauman, L. J., and Siegel, K. (1987). Misperceptions among gay man of the risk for AIDS associated with their sexual behavior.J. Appl. Soc. Psych. 17: 329–350.
Bentler, P. M., and Speckart, G. (1979). Models of attitude-behavior relations.Psych. Rev. 86: 452–464.
Chaiken, S., and Stangor, C. (1987). Attitudes and attitude change.Annu. Rev. Psych. 38: 575–630.
Janis, I. L. (1986). Coping patterns among patients with life-threatening diseases. In Spielberger, C. D., Sarason, I. G. (eds.),Stress and Anxiety, Hemisphere, Washington, DC, pp. 462–476.
Janis, I. L., and Mann, L. (1977).Decision Making: A Psychological Analysis of Conflict, Choice, and Commitment, Free Press, New York.
Jöreskog, K. G., and Sörbom, D. (1983). LISREL VI:Analysis of Linear Structural Relationships by the Method of Maximum Likelihood, Department of Statistics, University of Uppsala, Uppsala.
Joseph, J. G., Montgomery, S. B., Emmons, C. A., Kessler, R. C., Ostrow, D. G.,et al., (1987a). Magnitude and determinants of behavioral risk reduction: Longitudinal analysis of a cohort at risk for AIDS.Psychol. Health 1: 73–96.
Joseph, J. G., Montgomery, S. B., Emmons, C. A., Kirscht, J. P., Kessler, R. C.,et al. (1987b). Perceived risk of AIDS: Assessing the behavioral and psychological consequences in a cohort of gay men.J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 17: 231–250.
Lazarus, R. S., and Launier, R. (1978). Stress related transactions between person and environment. In Pervin, L. A. and Lewis, M. (eds.),Perspectives in Interactional Psychology, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 287–327.
Leventhal, H. (1971). Fear appeals and persuasion: The differentiation of a motivational construct.Am. J. Public Health 61: 1208–1224.
Maddux, J. E., and Rogers, R. W. (1983). Protection motivation and self-efficacy: A revised theory of fear appeals and attitude chance.J. Exp. Soc. Psychol. 19: 469–479.
McNeil, J. G., Brundage, J. F., Wann, Z. F., Burke, D. S., Miller, R. N.,et al. (1989). Direct measurement of human immunodeficiency virus seroconversions in a serially tested population of young adults in the United States Army, October 1985 to October 1987.New Engl. J. Med. 320: 1581–1585.
Parkes, K. R. (1986). Coping in stressful episodes: The role of individual differences, environmental factors, and situational characteristics.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 51: 1277–1292.
Prentice-Dunn, S., and Jacobs, B. (1986). Effects of self-awareness and expectancies on behavioral intentions: Integrating self-efficacy theory and control theory.Psychol. Rep. 58: 143–147.
Rippetoe, P. A., and Rogers, R. W. (1987). Effects of components of protection-motivation theory on adaptive and maladaptive coping with a health threat.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 52: 596–604.
Rogers, R. W. (1975). A protection motivation theory of fear appeals and attitudes change.J. Psychol. 91: 93–114.
Rogers, R. W. (1983). Cognitive and physiological processes in attitude change: A revised theory of protection motivation. In Cacioppo, J., and Petty, R. (eds.),Social Psychophysiology, Guilford Press, New York, pp. 153–176.
Rogers, R. W., and Mewborn, C. R. (1976). Fear appeals and attitude change: Effects of a threat's noxiousness, probability of occurrence, and the efficacy of coping responses.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 34: 54–61.
Sutton, S. E. (1982). Fear arousing communications: A critical examination of theory and research. In Eiser, J. R. (ed.),Social Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, Wiley, New York, pp. 303–337.
Weinstein, N. D. (1982). Unrealistic optimism about susceptibility to health problems.J. Behav. Med. 5: 441–460.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Part of this research was financially supported by Grant 28-1529(1,2) from the Dutch Foundation for Preventive Medicine.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van der Velde, F.W., Van der Pligt, J. AIDS-related health behavior: Coping, protection motivation, and previous behavior. J Behav Med 14, 429–451 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845103
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00845103