Predictors of vulnerability to AIDS risk behavior relapse.

Sixty-eight gay men who earlier attended AIDS prevention sessions were longitudinally followed for 16 months and categorized as successful or unsuccessful in change maintenance. Psychological and behavioral data obtained prior to entry in the prevention program were used as variables to predict long-term change. Resumption of high-risk sexual practices was associated with younger age, earlier history of frequent unprotected receptive anal intercourse with multiple partners, greater number of past sex partners, reinforcement value levels of high-risk practices and condom use, intoxication preceding sex, lower scores on a depression measure, greater belief that HIV infection is largely determined by external factors such as chance or luck, and homosexuality "outness." Discriminant analysis revealed that 86% of Ss could be classified as relapsers or change-maintainers on the basis of these variables. Prevention implications are discussed.