NCJ Number
129072
Journal
AIDS Education and Prevention Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1990) Pages: 296-304
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A survey of 441 fifth, seventh, and tenth grade school children from a middle class community in Rhode Island was used to assess spontaneous, emotional reactions to AIDS among children and adolescents. The relationship of forced-choice questions to other forms of assessment was evaluated.
Abstract
Loglinear analysis revealed that age or grade was a significant factor in the children's reactions; fifth graders were most upset by the disease effects and lethality while tenth graders expressed their helplessness. Differences in cognitive development may account for these reactions. Across all grade levels, correct responses to open-ended, knowledge-related questions about AIDS were highly predictive of knowledge on comparable, specific forced-choice questions. In developing AIDS-related curricula, the sensitivities of various age groups must be taken into account; a broadly based sex and health education program may be most effective in addressing the various concerns of students. 2 tables and 24 references (Author abstract modified)