Learning Objective #1: Describe the depressive symptoms and HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy in female and male adolescents cross-sectional and over one year.

Learning Objective #2: Identify the associations between depressive symptoms and HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy in female and male adolescents over one year.

---

The significant role of self-efficacy in reducing adolescents’ HIV/AIDS related risky sexual behaviors has been previously identified.  Depression, commonly seen in adolescents, may increase the likelihood of having HIV/AIDS infections. However, little is known about the role of depressive symptoms and self-efficacy of HIV/AIDS prevention in adolescents when the time changes over one year. The purpose of this longitudinal pilot study was to identify the associations between depressive symptoms and HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy in female and male adolescents over one year. A total of 81 Taiwanese high school students who were 16-18 years old completed self-reported questionnaires at both year 1 (Time 1) and 12 months after completing first time survey (Time 2). Of the 81 participants (22 boys and 59 girls), the number of sexually experienced adolescents was increased from 27.2% at first year to 37.0% at the second year. The average scores of depressive symptoms which measured by CES-D scale were significantly higher (p=.012) at Time 2 (Mean=25.48, SD = 10.14) than at Time 1 (Mean =23.1, SD = 10.4). Average self-efficacy score at Time 1 (Mean=80.88, SD =18.06) was lower than that of  Time 2 (Mean= 82.21, SD = 15.33).  Girls, compared with boys, had significant higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy at both Time 1 and Time 2. There were significant correlations between Time 1 and Time 2 measures.  Moreover, Time 2 self-efficacy was significantly correlated with Time 1 self-efficacy (r= .49, p<.001), Time 1 depressive symptoms(r= -.31, p=.019), and Time 2 depressive symptoms(r= -.33, p=.013) in female adolescents.  The findings suggest that the previous status of depressive symptoms and HIV/AIDS self-efficacy could be useful indicators of future self-efficacy for preventing HIV/AIDS related risky sexual behaviors among Taiwanese adolescents. This study would aid nurses in developing efficient HIV/AIDS preventive programs that aim at enhancing adolescents’ HIV/AIDS self-efficacy.