Using the health belief model to predict safer sex intentions among adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to use Health Belief Model (HBM) concepts to predict adolescents intentions to adopt safer sex behaviors. A stratified, random sampling technique was used to generate a sample of seventh-, ninth-, and eleventh-grade students representative of a southeastern state. A predictive model was constructed of the HBM variables. The model accounted for 43% of the variance in safer sex intentions among the seventh grade, 27% of the variance for the ninth grade and 17% of the variance for the eleventh grade. For the eleventh grade sample gender was the only significant predictor. The results of this study suggest that educational programs to promote safer sex intentions should focus on health related motivations among younger students. With older adolescents it may be more effective to expand education efforts to address factors directly relevant to their motivational schema and social environment. This study underscores the importance of using theory-based models in conducting health education research.