Laura Otto-salaj - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Laura Otto-salaj

American Journal of Public Health, 2000

OBJECTIVES: AIDS service organizations (ASOs) rarely have access to the information needed to imp... more OBJECTIVES: AIDS service organizations (ASOs) rarely have access to the information needed to implement research-based HIV prevention interventions for their clients. We compared the effectiveness of 3 dissemination strategies for transferring HIV prevention models from the research arena to community providers of HIV prevention services. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with the directors of 74 ASOs to assess current HIV prevention services. ASOs were randomized to programs that provided (1) technical assistance manuals describing how to implement research-based HIV prevention interventions, (2) manuals plus a staff training workshop on how to conduct the implementation, or (3) manuals, the training workshop, and follow-up telephone consultation calls. Follow-up interviews determined whether the intervention model had been adopted. RESULTS: The dissemination package that provided ASOs with implementation manuals, staff training workshops, and follow-up consultation resulted in mo...

The AIDS reader, 2001

HIV seroprevalence among people with serious mental illness has increased substantially in recent... more HIV seroprevalence among people with serious mental illness has increased substantially in recent years. Although the prevalence of HIV behavioral risk factors has been well documented, few researchers have chosen to investigate the impact that psychopathology may have on HIV risk behavior. A review of the literature on psychiatric diagnoses related to HIV sexual risk reveals that bipolar disorder and perhaps schizophrenia are related to increased HIV risk. Further, persons in whom both Axis I and Axis II disorders are diagnosed appear to be at greater HIV behavioral risk. Research on psychiatric symptoms shows that illness severity may vary in its relation to HIV risk according to the specific symptoms present and that excited and possibly positive symptoms may be predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior. However, there is a need for research to elucidate these relationships. Future efforts that will add most to the literature will include examinations of psychiatric symptoms and ill...

World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 2008

We conducted the first study to examine rates of sexual activity, sexual risk behaviors, sexual p... more We conducted the first study to examine rates of sexual activity, sexual risk behaviors, sexual protective behaviors, injection drug use (IDU), needle sharing, and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among outpatients with severe mental illness (SMI) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Using a measure with demonstrated reliability, we found that 42% of 98 patients engaged in vaginal or anal sex within the past three months. Comorbid substance use disorder was significantly associated with sexual activity. Only 22% of sexually active patients used condoms consistently, despite having better HIV knowledge than those who were sexually abstinent. Overall, 45% of patients reported not engaging in any HIV protective behaviors. There were no reports of drug injection. Adults with SMI in Brazil are in need of efficacious HIV prevention programs and policies that can sustain these programs within mental health treatment settings.

Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1992

Three hundred and fifteen psychotherapists responded to a survey and provided information about c... more Three hundred and fifteen psychotherapists responded to a survey and provided information about clients who had failed to make progress in individual treatment. It was found that criteria for defining failure to progress varied with therapy orientation, and that social-cognitive factors, over the severity of patient symptoms, often guided therapists evaluations of client functioning. Preliminary estimates were that an average of 11% of each therapist's caseload were not making progress, and that the majority of therapists who were continuing to treat these clients had not developed alternative treatment plans. Both pragmatic and ethical concerns suggest the need for developing guidelines and criteria for use in determining when clients are failing to make sufficient progress and in providing recommendations for how such cases should be managed.

Background: People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency vi... more Background: People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A small body of published research has evaluated the efficacy of HIV prevention interventions that aim to help persons with mental illness modify sexual behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection. Additional research has evaluated the economic efficiency (''cost- effectiveness'') of these

Background: Bioecological Systems Theory (BST; Bronfenbrenner, 1993) may help us understand the c... more Background: Bioecological Systems Theory (BST; Bronfenbrenner, 1993) may help us understand the context of multiple risk issues in low income African American women at disproportionate HIV risk. Preliminary baseline data from an ongoing prospective study were used to examine one of several BST-based models, including individual and sociocultural variables as they relate to sexual risk, substance use, and victimization. Method: Participants were African American women living in public housing developments in Milwaukee, WI (N=245). Baseline ACASI interviews assessed individual [trauma history (physical abuse, sexual coercion)], and sociocultural [social support (SS), experience of community violence, sense of community] variables as they relate to substance use [SU: alcohol and drug problems, days use total], recent victimization, and sexual risk (proportion of unprotected to all vaginal sex occasions). Non-normally distributed data were transformed. We performed structural equation m...

AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 1999

Although the efficacy of small-group, risk reduction interventions based on cognitive behavioral ... more Although the efficacy of small-group, risk reduction interventions based on cognitive behavioral principles has been widely documented in HIV behavioral research literature, little is known about how AIDS service organizations (ASOs) view these research-based models. From a nationwide sample of 77 ASOs, this study assessed factors influencing attitudes of prevention program directors and frontline staff toward research-based interventions. Characteristics of individual respondents as well as organizational characteristics of the ASO itself were used to predict perceived benefits of adopting this type of intervention, perceived efficacy (confidence) in the ASO's ability to implement it, and perceived barriers to adoption. Findings revealed uniformly positive perceptions of benefits among respondents from ASOs of different sizes and organizational experiences, although directors held more favorable evaluations than frontline staff. Respondents from ASOs that were larger, had previ...

The journal of mental health policy and economics, 2003

People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in... more People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A small body of published research has evaluated the efficacy of HIV prevention interventions that aim to help persons with mental illness modify sexual behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection. Additional research has evaluated the economic efficiency ('cost-effectiveness') of these interventions. We provide a detailed and critical review of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of randomized, controlled trials of HIV prevention interventions for this population. We present a brief overview of the epidemiology of HIV among men and women with serious mental illness and describe HIV risk factors for members of this population. The efficacy literature is critically reviewed, and the results of the available studies are compared using a common effect size metric. The cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions for mentally ill adults is then reviewed. The ef...

Child psychiatry and human development, 2002

This study examined several types of psychiatric functioning (neuropsychiatric, emotional, and co... more This study examined several types of psychiatric functioning (neuropsychiatric, emotional, and cognitive functioning) and substance use in relation to HIV risk behavior among 894 incarcerated girls and boys. Youth remanded to juvenile correctional facilities in a southern US state completed a structured interview regarding abuse history, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and demographics. Adolescents who experienced sullen affect were significantly more likely to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection. Moreover, higher levels of alcohol use predicted HIV risk behavior. HIV prevention efforts need to address emotional distress as well as substance use among delinquent adolescents to reduce HIV risk behavior. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.

Mental health services research, 2001

Adults with severe mental illness are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infecti... more Adults with severe mental illness are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and transmission. Small-group interventions that focus on sexual communication, condom use skills, and motivation to practice safer sex have been shown to be effective at helping mentally ill persons reduce their risk for HIV. However, the cost-effectiveness of these interventions has not been established. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a 9-session small-group intervention for women with mental illness recruited from community mental health clinics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We used standard techniques of cost-utility analysis to determine the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) saved by the intervention. This analysis indicated that the intervention cost 679perperson,andover679 per person, and over 679perperson,andover136,000 per QALY saved. When the analysis was restricted to the subset of women who reported having engaged in vaginal or anal intercourse in the 3 months prior to the baseline assessment, the ...

Community mental health journal, 2001

HIV prevalence is alarmingly high among persons with serious mental illness and severely mentally... more HIV prevalence is alarmingly high among persons with serious mental illness and severely mentally ill adults frequently engage in high-risk behavior practices. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a small-group HIV risk reduction intervention offered to 189 men and women in outpatient programs for severely mentally ill adults. Participants screened for HIV risk were randomly assigned to attend either a 7-session small-group cognitive-behavioral HIV risk reduction intervention or a time-matched comparison intervention and were followed at 3-month intervals for one year. Participants who attended the HIV risk reduction intervention increased their condom use, had a higher percentage of intercourse occasions protected by condoms, and held more positive attitudes toward condoms. Women showed greater response to the intervention than men. While many behavior change effects were present at 3-, 6- and 9-month followup assessments, most diminished by the 12-month followup. These result...

AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 1999

The public health benefits of needle exchange programs (NEPs) are well known. NEPs lower risk fac... more The public health benefits of needle exchange programs (NEPs) are well known. NEPs lower risk factors for HIV transmission by providing injection drug users (IDUs) with clean syringes and needles; harm reduction materials; and referrals to drug, sexually transmitted disease, mental health, and medical treatment facilities. While exchange programs continue to be implemented, there have been few reports illustrating how social science and community assessment research can be used to guide the development of NEPs. Using the Lifepoint needle exchange program in Milwaukee as a case study, this paper shows how social science methods can be used to understand IDU culture through the community identification process, link qualitative and observational findings to program decision making, and guide the implementation and operation of a needle exchange. The community identification process showed that there were different IDU subcultures in the city indicating that the NEP would need to be ta...

Social Work, 2010

In many instances, departments of social work in universities and community-hased social services... more In many instances, departments of social work in universities and community-hased social services agencies have common interests in improving professional practice and advancing knowledge in the profession.Effective university-community research coUahorations can help partners achieve these goals joindy, hut to he effective these coUahorative partnerships require considerahle effort and understanding hy all partners involved.This article provides to novice investigators and social work agencies new to research partnerships an integrated discussion of important issues to develop the groundwork necessary for huilding and maintaining effective university-community social work coUahorations.Through experience gained from a series of social work research partnerships, as well as an overview of relevant literature, the authors offer a set of strategies for huilding and sustaining research coUahorations between university and community-based social work professionals. The general topics discussed are technology exchange, adopting a longitudinal perspective, knowing your partners, and practical contracting/budgetary issues. The article has relevance to beginning social work researchers, social work educators, and social work practitioners seeking to engage in collaborative partnerships that improve social work practice through research and advance the knowledge base ofthe profession.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2002

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 1998

Previous research has found high levels ofHIV sero prevalence and risk behavior among people with... more Previous research has found high levels ofHIV sero prevalence and risk behavior among people with severe mental illness liv ing in the community. Risk in this population is associated with high prevalence of unprotected sex with multiple, casua~ or high-risk sexual partners; high levels ofsexual contact between men with severe mental ill ness and other men; use ofinjection drugs or sexual contact within injec tion drug user (InU) social networks; elevated rates ofalcohol and noninjected drug use, especiaUy the use ofcrack cocaine and the exchange ofsexfor drugs; and patterns of"survival sex" to obtain food, money, or a place to stay. A number oftheoretical models have been developed to guide HIV risk behavior change interventions. Ibis paper describes the theoretical underpinnings ofskills-based HIV risk reduction interventions, and the ele ments critical to successful HIV risk behavior change as delineated by this modeL We then discuss how these elements were operationali%ed in an HIV prevention intervention successfully implemented in urban community men tal health clinics serving people with mental iUness. Effective, theory-drlven HIV prevention interventions can be successfully incorporated into the daily service life ofcommunity-based mental health clinics. ARTICLES

Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 2009

Journal of Sex Research, 2008

Little research has been performed on how people respond to different strategies to negotiate con... more Little research has been performed on how people respond to different strategies to negotiate condom use in sexual situations, and whether certain strategies tend to be perceived as more or less effective in condom use negotiation. This study examined gender differences and preferences in the use of and response to six different styles of condom use negotiation with a hypothetical sexual partner of the opposite gender. Participants were 51 heterosexually-active African-American men and women between the ages of 18 and 35, attending an inner-city community center. Study participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview in which they were presented with six negotiation strategies -coercive, reward, legitimate, expert, referent, and informational--based on Raven's 1992 Power/Interaction Model of Interpersonal Influence. Results showed that women participants responded best to referent, reward, and legitimate strategies, and worst to informational tactics. Men participants responded best to reward strategies, and worst to coercion to use condoms. Further, responses given by a subset of both women-and, to a greater extent, men--indicated that use of negotiation tactics involving coercion to use condoms may result in negative or angry reactions. Finally, response to strategies may vary with the value of the relationship as viewed by the target of negotiation. Implications for HIV prevention programs and media campaigns are discussed.

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 1999

Journal of Health Psychology, 2000

American Journal of Public Health, 2000

OBJECTIVES: AIDS service organizations (ASOs) rarely have access to the information needed to imp... more OBJECTIVES: AIDS service organizations (ASOs) rarely have access to the information needed to implement research-based HIV prevention interventions for their clients. We compared the effectiveness of 3 dissemination strategies for transferring HIV prevention models from the research arena to community providers of HIV prevention services. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with the directors of 74 ASOs to assess current HIV prevention services. ASOs were randomized to programs that provided (1) technical assistance manuals describing how to implement research-based HIV prevention interventions, (2) manuals plus a staff training workshop on how to conduct the implementation, or (3) manuals, the training workshop, and follow-up telephone consultation calls. Follow-up interviews determined whether the intervention model had been adopted. RESULTS: The dissemination package that provided ASOs with implementation manuals, staff training workshops, and follow-up consultation resulted in mo...

The AIDS reader, 2001

HIV seroprevalence among people with serious mental illness has increased substantially in recent... more HIV seroprevalence among people with serious mental illness has increased substantially in recent years. Although the prevalence of HIV behavioral risk factors has been well documented, few researchers have chosen to investigate the impact that psychopathology may have on HIV risk behavior. A review of the literature on psychiatric diagnoses related to HIV sexual risk reveals that bipolar disorder and perhaps schizophrenia are related to increased HIV risk. Further, persons in whom both Axis I and Axis II disorders are diagnosed appear to be at greater HIV behavioral risk. Research on psychiatric symptoms shows that illness severity may vary in its relation to HIV risk according to the specific symptoms present and that excited and possibly positive symptoms may be predictors of HIV sexual risk behavior. However, there is a need for research to elucidate these relationships. Future efforts that will add most to the literature will include examinations of psychiatric symptoms and ill...

World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 2008

We conducted the first study to examine rates of sexual activity, sexual risk behaviors, sexual p... more We conducted the first study to examine rates of sexual activity, sexual risk behaviors, sexual protective behaviors, injection drug use (IDU), needle sharing, and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among outpatients with severe mental illness (SMI) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Using a measure with demonstrated reliability, we found that 42% of 98 patients engaged in vaginal or anal sex within the past three months. Comorbid substance use disorder was significantly associated with sexual activity. Only 22% of sexually active patients used condoms consistently, despite having better HIV knowledge than those who were sexually abstinent. Overall, 45% of patients reported not engaging in any HIV protective behaviors. There were no reports of drug injection. Adults with SMI in Brazil are in need of efficacious HIV prevention programs and policies that can sustain these programs within mental health treatment settings.

Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1992

Three hundred and fifteen psychotherapists responded to a survey and provided information about c... more Three hundred and fifteen psychotherapists responded to a survey and provided information about clients who had failed to make progress in individual treatment. It was found that criteria for defining failure to progress varied with therapy orientation, and that social-cognitive factors, over the severity of patient symptoms, often guided therapists evaluations of client functioning. Preliminary estimates were that an average of 11% of each therapist's caseload were not making progress, and that the majority of therapists who were continuing to treat these clients had not developed alternative treatment plans. Both pragmatic and ethical concerns suggest the need for developing guidelines and criteria for use in determining when clients are failing to make sufficient progress and in providing recommendations for how such cases should be managed.

Background: People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency vi... more Background: People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A small body of published research has evaluated the efficacy of HIV prevention interventions that aim to help persons with mental illness modify sexual behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection. Additional research has evaluated the economic efficiency (''cost- effectiveness'') of these

Background: Bioecological Systems Theory (BST; Bronfenbrenner, 1993) may help us understand the c... more Background: Bioecological Systems Theory (BST; Bronfenbrenner, 1993) may help us understand the context of multiple risk issues in low income African American women at disproportionate HIV risk. Preliminary baseline data from an ongoing prospective study were used to examine one of several BST-based models, including individual and sociocultural variables as they relate to sexual risk, substance use, and victimization. Method: Participants were African American women living in public housing developments in Milwaukee, WI (N=245). Baseline ACASI interviews assessed individual [trauma history (physical abuse, sexual coercion)], and sociocultural [social support (SS), experience of community violence, sense of community] variables as they relate to substance use [SU: alcohol and drug problems, days use total], recent victimization, and sexual risk (proportion of unprotected to all vaginal sex occasions). Non-normally distributed data were transformed. We performed structural equation m...

AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 1999

Although the efficacy of small-group, risk reduction interventions based on cognitive behavioral ... more Although the efficacy of small-group, risk reduction interventions based on cognitive behavioral principles has been widely documented in HIV behavioral research literature, little is known about how AIDS service organizations (ASOs) view these research-based models. From a nationwide sample of 77 ASOs, this study assessed factors influencing attitudes of prevention program directors and frontline staff toward research-based interventions. Characteristics of individual respondents as well as organizational characteristics of the ASO itself were used to predict perceived benefits of adopting this type of intervention, perceived efficacy (confidence) in the ASO's ability to implement it, and perceived barriers to adoption. Findings revealed uniformly positive perceptions of benefits among respondents from ASOs of different sizes and organizational experiences, although directors held more favorable evaluations than frontline staff. Respondents from ASOs that were larger, had previ...

The journal of mental health policy and economics, 2003

People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in... more People with serious mental illness are at elevated risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A small body of published research has evaluated the efficacy of HIV prevention interventions that aim to help persons with mental illness modify sexual behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection. Additional research has evaluated the economic efficiency ('cost-effectiveness') of these interventions. We provide a detailed and critical review of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of randomized, controlled trials of HIV prevention interventions for this population. We present a brief overview of the epidemiology of HIV among men and women with serious mental illness and describe HIV risk factors for members of this population. The efficacy literature is critically reviewed, and the results of the available studies are compared using a common effect size metric. The cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions for mentally ill adults is then reviewed. The ef...

Child psychiatry and human development, 2002

This study examined several types of psychiatric functioning (neuropsychiatric, emotional, and co... more This study examined several types of psychiatric functioning (neuropsychiatric, emotional, and cognitive functioning) and substance use in relation to HIV risk behavior among 894 incarcerated girls and boys. Youth remanded to juvenile correctional facilities in a southern US state completed a structured interview regarding abuse history, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and demographics. Adolescents who experienced sullen affect were significantly more likely to engage in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection. Moreover, higher levels of alcohol use predicted HIV risk behavior. HIV prevention efforts need to address emotional distress as well as substance use among delinquent adolescents to reduce HIV risk behavior. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.

Mental health services research, 2001

Adults with severe mental illness are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infecti... more Adults with severe mental illness are at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and transmission. Small-group interventions that focus on sexual communication, condom use skills, and motivation to practice safer sex have been shown to be effective at helping mentally ill persons reduce their risk for HIV. However, the cost-effectiveness of these interventions has not been established. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a 9-session small-group intervention for women with mental illness recruited from community mental health clinics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We used standard techniques of cost-utility analysis to determine the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) saved by the intervention. This analysis indicated that the intervention cost 679perperson,andover679 per person, and over 679perperson,andover136,000 per QALY saved. When the analysis was restricted to the subset of women who reported having engaged in vaginal or anal intercourse in the 3 months prior to the baseline assessment, the ...

Community mental health journal, 2001

HIV prevalence is alarmingly high among persons with serious mental illness and severely mentally... more HIV prevalence is alarmingly high among persons with serious mental illness and severely mentally ill adults frequently engage in high-risk behavior practices. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a small-group HIV risk reduction intervention offered to 189 men and women in outpatient programs for severely mentally ill adults. Participants screened for HIV risk were randomly assigned to attend either a 7-session small-group cognitive-behavioral HIV risk reduction intervention or a time-matched comparison intervention and were followed at 3-month intervals for one year. Participants who attended the HIV risk reduction intervention increased their condom use, had a higher percentage of intercourse occasions protected by condoms, and held more positive attitudes toward condoms. Women showed greater response to the intervention than men. While many behavior change effects were present at 3-, 6- and 9-month followup assessments, most diminished by the 12-month followup. These result...

AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 1999

The public health benefits of needle exchange programs (NEPs) are well known. NEPs lower risk fac... more The public health benefits of needle exchange programs (NEPs) are well known. NEPs lower risk factors for HIV transmission by providing injection drug users (IDUs) with clean syringes and needles; harm reduction materials; and referrals to drug, sexually transmitted disease, mental health, and medical treatment facilities. While exchange programs continue to be implemented, there have been few reports illustrating how social science and community assessment research can be used to guide the development of NEPs. Using the Lifepoint needle exchange program in Milwaukee as a case study, this paper shows how social science methods can be used to understand IDU culture through the community identification process, link qualitative and observational findings to program decision making, and guide the implementation and operation of a needle exchange. The community identification process showed that there were different IDU subcultures in the city indicating that the NEP would need to be ta...

Social Work, 2010

In many instances, departments of social work in universities and community-hased social services... more In many instances, departments of social work in universities and community-hased social services agencies have common interests in improving professional practice and advancing knowledge in the profession.Effective university-community research coUahorations can help partners achieve these goals joindy, hut to he effective these coUahorative partnerships require considerahle effort and understanding hy all partners involved.This article provides to novice investigators and social work agencies new to research partnerships an integrated discussion of important issues to develop the groundwork necessary for huilding and maintaining effective university-community social work coUahorations.Through experience gained from a series of social work research partnerships, as well as an overview of relevant literature, the authors offer a set of strategies for huilding and sustaining research coUahorations between university and community-based social work professionals. The general topics discussed are technology exchange, adopting a longitudinal perspective, knowing your partners, and practical contracting/budgetary issues. The article has relevance to beginning social work researchers, social work educators, and social work practitioners seeking to engage in collaborative partnerships that improve social work practice through research and advance the knowledge base ofthe profession.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2002

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 1998

Previous research has found high levels ofHIV sero prevalence and risk behavior among people with... more Previous research has found high levels ofHIV sero prevalence and risk behavior among people with severe mental illness liv ing in the community. Risk in this population is associated with high prevalence of unprotected sex with multiple, casua~ or high-risk sexual partners; high levels ofsexual contact between men with severe mental ill ness and other men; use ofinjection drugs or sexual contact within injec tion drug user (InU) social networks; elevated rates ofalcohol and noninjected drug use, especiaUy the use ofcrack cocaine and the exchange ofsexfor drugs; and patterns of"survival sex" to obtain food, money, or a place to stay. A number oftheoretical models have been developed to guide HIV risk behavior change interventions. Ibis paper describes the theoretical underpinnings ofskills-based HIV risk reduction interventions, and the ele ments critical to successful HIV risk behavior change as delineated by this modeL We then discuss how these elements were operationali%ed in an HIV prevention intervention successfully implemented in urban community men tal health clinics serving people with mental iUness. Effective, theory-drlven HIV prevention interventions can be successfully incorporated into the daily service life ofcommunity-based mental health clinics. ARTICLES

Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 2009

Journal of Sex Research, 2008

Little research has been performed on how people respond to different strategies to negotiate con... more Little research has been performed on how people respond to different strategies to negotiate condom use in sexual situations, and whether certain strategies tend to be perceived as more or less effective in condom use negotiation. This study examined gender differences and preferences in the use of and response to six different styles of condom use negotiation with a hypothetical sexual partner of the opposite gender. Participants were 51 heterosexually-active African-American men and women between the ages of 18 and 35, attending an inner-city community center. Study participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview in which they were presented with six negotiation strategies -coercive, reward, legitimate, expert, referent, and informational--based on Raven's 1992 Power/Interaction Model of Interpersonal Influence. Results showed that women participants responded best to referent, reward, and legitimate strategies, and worst to informational tactics. Men participants responded best to reward strategies, and worst to coercion to use condoms. Further, responses given by a subset of both women-and, to a greater extent, men--indicated that use of negotiation tactics involving coercion to use condoms may result in negative or angry reactions. Finally, response to strategies may vary with the value of the relationship as viewed by the target of negotiation. Implications for HIV prevention programs and media campaigns are discussed.

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 1999

Journal of Health Psychology, 2000