Mechanisms Influencing Sexual Risk Taking

描述（由申请人修订）：性风险直接导致性传播疾病的高发病率和艾滋病毒感染的持续传播。 尽管多年的研究，导致冒险行为的机制仍然知之甚少。 具体来说，先前的研究在很大程度上假设性决策取决于理性的思维过程，并没有充分解决情绪状态在影响行为中的作用。本项目将对各种积极或消极情绪状态与性冒险之间的相互关系的机制进行系统研究。 在一系列的研究中，积极或消极的情绪状态和兴趣对性冒险的个体和综合影响将被检查。这些关系中的个体差异将在男性和女性中进行研究。一个冒险的范例介绍了既定的决策任务的特点，同时增加生态有效性的性行为。该研究计划的另一个目标是验证自我报告措施（评估情绪状态对性行为相关结构的影响），该措施可用于在未来的预防和干预计划中识别和针对相关人群。

DESCRIPTION (revised by applicant): Sexual risk taking contributes directly to high rates of sexually transmitted disease and the continued spread of HIV infection. Despite many years of research, the mechanisms that lead to risk taking behavior are still poorly understood. Specifically, prior research has largely assumed that sexual decision-making depends on rational thought processes, and has not adequately addressed the role that emotional state plays in influencing behavior. This project will conduct systematic research on the mechanisms underlying the interrelationships among various types of positive or negative emotional state and sexual risk taking. In a series of studies, the individual and combined effects of positive or negative emotional state and interest on sexual risk taking will be examined. Individual differences in these relationships will be studied in men and women. A risk-taking paradigm is introduced that incorporates characteristics of established decision-making tasks while increasing ecological validity for sexual behavior. An additional objective of the research program involves the validation of a self-report measure (assessing the effects of emotional state on constructs related to sexual behavior) that could be used to identify and target relevant populations in future prevention and intervention programs.