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Letter to Editor

HIV risk perception in relation to peer pressure and

drug abuse behavior among adolescents
and HIV risk perception (r = 0.22**); and between peer
pressure and drug abuse behavior (r = 0.55**) [Table
1 and 2]. Studies have shown that HIV infection has
a strong relation with faulty sexual attitudes[1] and
lack of communication.[2] Similarly, alcohol and illegal
drugs lower inhibitions and encourage young adults to
have sex without protecting themselves against STDs
or HIV. Drug use often begins during adolescence
and constitutes further vulnerability to HIV infection.
Research literature is full of studies of drug abuse
and risk of HIV infection. Drug-using populations
are more vulnerable to HIV infection.[3] Factors such
as peer pressure, lack of maturity, alcohol and drug
use put college students at risk for HIV infection.
Many young people start experimenting with drugs
during their adolescence. Hasida[4] in her study of peer
sexual behavior among adolescents found a positive
association between the perception of sexual risk
behaviors and pressure of peers.

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Sir,
Unsafe sex is the leading cause of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection globally.
Young people under the age of 25 are estimated to
account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide,
with an average of two young persons being infected
every hour of every day. HIV/ AIDS is rapidly
spreading and has cost millions of lives and billions
of dollars to humanity. Studies have shown that
despite biological factors like sexual relationships, drug
injection, blood transfusion, there are some underlying
psychological factors that make one vulnerable to
HIV infection - like anxiety, stress, depression, lack of
communication, posttraumatic stress disorder, negative
affect, domestic problems, etc. Keeping this in mind,
the present researchers considered some more relevant
psychological factors that seem more influential in HIV
infection. These are HIV risk perception, peer pressure
and drug abuse behavior.

Th

Risk perception is a faulty perceptual process that

makes people vulnerable to risky behaviors. There
may be a number of risk factors, for example,
low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sex abuse,
posttraumatic stress disorder, negative affect and lack
of communication, that influence risk perception.
The present research is more focused on peer
pressure and drug abuse behavior as potential
cause of HIV risk vulnerability. Peer pressure is a
term describing changes, or temptations to make
changes, in attitude, behavior and morals as directly
influenced by their peer group. Some teenagers get
caught up in romantic feelings and believe having
sex is the best way they can prove or demonstrate
their love; some teenagers decide to have sexual
relationships because their friends think so. Studies
have shown that many adolescent girls equate
sex with love and/or peer acceptance and suffer
undesirable consequences as a result of their actions,
such as HIV infection, other sexually transmitted
diseases and pregnancy.

The findings of the present research indicate that there

is a very strong relationship between peer pressure and
HIV risk perception (r = 0.22**); drug abuse behavior

Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2007; Vol. 28, No. 1

Thus it can be concluded that HIV risk is strongly

related with peer pressure and drug abuse behavior.
Adolescents who have faulty risk perception are
more likely to engage in drug abuse and risky sexual
practices. In addition, young adolescents who are
under the influence of peer pressure are more prone to
HIV risk. Adolescents under the influence of peers are
Table 1: Descriptive profile of human
immunodeficiency virus risk perception, peer
pressure and drug abuse behavior (n=200)
Variables

Mean

Standard deviation

HIV risk perception

Peer pressure
Drug abuse

8.79
99.88
102.89

2.52
14.09
13.20

HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus

Table 2: Inter correlation table

Variables
HIV risk
perception
Peer pressure
Drug abuse

HIV risk
perception

Peer
pressure

Drug
abuse

0.22**

0.22**

0.55**
-

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[Downloadedfreefromhttp://www.ijstd.orgonMonday,May02,2011,IP:164.100.1.206]||ClickheretodownloadfreeAndroidapplicationfort
Singh, et al.: HIV risk perception

more likely to take drugs, have multiple sex partners

and unsafe sex.

REFERENCES
1.

2.

1994.
Hasida, Ben-Zur. Peer risk behavior and denial of HIV risk among
adolescent. Sex Education: Sex Soc Learn 2003;3:75-85.

Sandeep Singh, Sunil Saini*

Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar

University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana,
*Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, India
Correspondence:
Sandeep Singh, Department of Applied Psychology,
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar,
Haryana, India. E-mail: sandeephisar@gmail.com

Th
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3.

Doll LS, Beeker C. Male bisexual behavior and HIV risk in the
United States: Synthesis of research with implications for behavioral
interventions. AIDS Educ Prev 1996;8:205-25.
Fisher WA, Byrne D, White LA. Erotophobia-erotophilia as a
dimension of personality. J Sex Res 1988;25:123-51.
Auerbach JD, Wypijewska C, Brodie KH. AIDS and behavior: An
integrated approach. National Academy Press: Washington, DC;

4.

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Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2007; Vol. 28, No. 1