Ilusión de invulnerabilidad, estereotipos y percepción de control del SIDA en universitarios

Abstract

During youth the habits and attitudes that will influence the adoption or abandonment of preventive sexual behaviors are consolidated. The objective of this study is twofold, to describe the sexual habits of Spanish college students and know how stereotypes and perceived control to HIV/AIDS are related to the illusion of invulnerability. Afield study was conducted with 269 undergraduates, 72 males and 197 females, aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 19.57, SD = 1.82) at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid during the 2011–2012 academic year. The 85.13% of undergraduate students were sexually active. Of these, 71.2%showed some degree of illusion of invulnerability, with women showing slightly higher scores. Although students still follow stereotyping people with AIDS, non significant relationship was found with this socio-cognitive variable. Sex and the stability of the relationship acted as moderator variables of the relationship between perceived control and the illusion of invulnerability. It is necessary to keep on providing accurate information about AIDS to eliminate stereotypes and design prevention programs that reduce the illusion of invulnerability and the perception of control.