The objectives of this project were: 1) to assess condom negotiation and other assertive skills in divorced Latino and Anglo women, 2) to test a behavioral rehearsal intervention tailored to Latino and Anglo cultures by assessing differential change in trained women's skill levels relative to didactic training controls, 3) to compare Latino and Anglo women's skill and HIV risk practices, and 4) to explore the relationship between social factors, social skills and HIV risk behavior. This study assessed the effectiveness of social skills training (SST) versus didactic training (DT) in increasing the level of condom negotiation and other HIV prevention assertive skills in recently separated/divorced women. The sample consisted of 107 Latina and Anglo women, ages 18 to 49 who experienced separation or divorce within the last 6 to 18 months. Videotaped role-play and interview measures were collected at baseline, post-test and 4-month follow-up.
Baseline data indicated significant levels of sexual HIV risk behaviors. Social skills training increased HIV prevention assertive skills in women recently separated/divorced. However, follow-up outcomes showed that increases in skill level were not maintained over time. More importantly, no significant decreases in risk behavior were observed for number of vaginal and anal sex partners, frequency of sex, and condom use with all partners. These follow-up results suggest that training needs to be continued and/or other support systems are required to maintain training effects and reduce HIV risk behaviors.
Principal Investigator: Mel Hovell, PhD, MPH
Project Coordinator: Gina Rodriguez, BA
Source: University-wide AIDS Research Program