AIDS. 1990 Apr;4(4):361-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/90274925
Fear arousal as an agent for behaviour change has had little recorded
success. However, one component of the UK government health education
campaign on AIDS (phase 2) used targeted fear messages. This study
therefore examined whether the posters (visual) or television
advertisements (audiovisual) (1) raised anxiety levels, (2) changed
attitudes, and (3) affected sexual behaviour in 111 subjects (59
students and 52 consecutive attenders at a drug-dependency unit). The
drug-dependency unit group was significantly more anxious than the
students before the campaign (P less than 0.0001). Fear messages
significantly increased anxiety in the students (t = 3.8, P less than
0.0001) but had no impact on the drug users. There were no differences
between visual and audiovisual material. Thus the campaign did not reach
the targeted group but did raise anxiety levels (in the short term) in
the students. Perceived personal risk was low and willingness to change
sexual behaviour (which was also low) did not differ across groups.
Drug-using behaviour was unaltered.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY Anxiety *Fear *Health
Education Health Promotion Human Questionnaires Risk Factors Shock
Substance Abuse JOURNAL ARTICLE