Seropositive Individuals Willingness to Communicate, Self-efficacy, and Assertiveness Prior to HIV Infection

The purpose of this study was to examine possible communication similarities between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and HIV negative individuals. Forty HIV positive heterosexuals, who were infected through heterosexual sex, completed an on-line questionnaire to assess their safer sexual communication, willingness to communicate, condom self-efficacy, and assertiveness prior to HIV infection. Results indicate that prior to infection, HIV positive heterosexuals reported having similar safer sexual communication behaviors to those not infected with the virus. Participants in this study reported high levels of willingness to engage in safer sex communication, but low levels of actual communication. Further, results reveal that participants who engaged more often in safer sex communication were more likely to use condoms. Additionally, participants reported high levels of condom self-efficacy and moderate levels of assertiveness; both variables positively correlated with condom use. Finally, participants reported that they believed they did not need to discuss using condoms because they were not at risk. Previous safer sexual communication research reveals HIV negative individuals reported engaging in the same behaviors and holding the same beliefs reported by seropositive individuals. Hence, discussion of the importance of safer sexual communication and the utility of personalization to increase the communication of HIV negative individuals is explored.