The studies show that the young know what they have to do to prevent the disease, but the data point out that the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, which provokes AIDS) is still transmitting in this age group. In fact, 53.8% of the new sick persons diagnosed with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) are between 25 and 34 years old. This shows that many of them contracted the virus in the adolescence. In this sense, “information and knowledge are necessary, but inadequate”, points out Paz Bermúdez, professor of Psychology of the Universidad de Granada (UGR), who finished her thesis one year ago con base en a series of surveys among the young, following the criteria of scientist Freddy A. Paniagua, of the University of Texas (USA), one of the supervisors of this project together with Gualberto Buela, of the UGR.
We must consider that all the educational and motivation programs have been relatively successful it takes them a lot to change their risk conducts. The theoretical review which preceded the field work and the adaptation to Castilian of the HIV/AIDS-65 Paniagua´s Scale are the first steps of this study of Granada. The main objective is to analyse the psychosocial factors which are in the basis of this problem. There are three types: cognitive, attitudinal and conductual. After the analysis of the data gathered from the questionnaires completed by the teenagers, we can obtain very useful information to design, modify or assess the effect of the AIDS prevention programmes.
The questionnaires were applied to a total of 657 adolescents of different cities and towns of Spain, aged between 13 and 18 years old. 129 of them had psychological disorders, boys and girls who are more impulsive and thoughtless than the average. After completing the questionnaires, the psychologists used to hold a conversation with each adolescent. In this sense, the information obtained is very abundant, always coordinated with the psychopedagogical services of the educational centres.
Bermúdez points out that the wrong ideas are very important fields in the acquisition of the HIV in adolescents. In addition, the results point out that there are psychological barrier that make impossible the necessary measures taking to prevent the transmission of the fearsome virus. Susceptibility is very important too. There are expressions such as “I am not interested”, making the mistake of identifying HIV and AIDS with collectives such as homosexuals, prostitutes or drug addicts.
Another important factor is the lack of assertiveness, this is, the difficulty of saying “no” against an undesired situation. “Some girls expose themselves to the sexually transmitted diseases because their partners do not want to maintain have sex with them using preservatives”, Bermúdez says. Religious and ideological influences are essential. The UGR professor explains that one adolescent said that “he did not use preservatives and would never use them”.
“The opinion of their equals” is very important for the adolescents, this is, what their friends or classmates think. There is a series of rules transmitted and imposed to be part of the group, and some of them are connected with social conduct too. The communication with parents is usually inadequate. “Often, we should evaluate the parents to get to know the knowledge they transmit”, points out Bermúdez. Preventing is very difficult and does not only include information and knowledge: this is the basic conclusion we can draw from this research work.
Further information: Mª Paz Bermúdez Sánchez
Dpt Evolutionary and Educational Psychology
Phone number: 958 24 90 37.
E-mail: maripaz@ugr.es
