The Effects of Motivation and Knowledge on HIV Prevention Behavior among Historically Black College Students: An Application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model

Abstract

This study applies the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model to assess the effects of prevention education, prevention personal motivation and prevention knowledge on HIV prevention behavioral skills among historically black college students. The IMB model states that prevention information and prevention motivation are strong predictors of prevention behavioral skills. In light of increased incidence of HIV and STD infection among historically black college and university (HBCU) students in the United States, the present research examines the utility of two key components -motivation and knowledge -of the IMB model to explain HIV prevention behavior among this population. Survey data of indicators of the three IMB latent constructs -prevention information, prevention motivation, and prevention behavioral skills -was collected from students attending an HBCU. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was performed to estimate the overall model fit indices and the magnitude of effects of prevention motivation and prevention information or knowledge on the prevention behavioral skills of the students. The analysis found that prevention HIV education motivation and HIV prevention knowledge had no significant effect on prevention behavioral skills, while HIV personal prevention knowledge emerged as having a significant and large effect in explaining HIV prevention behavioral skills among the students. These findings not only deviate from findings of previous research in other populations, but also suggest that to be effective HIV prevention programs aimed at reducing HIV risk behavior among HBCU students may consider shifting their focus to prevention personal motivation programs.

Identifying the Antecedents of Political Engagement Behavior among Young Adult College Students

“…Unlike other behavioral models, such as the theory of reasoned action [35] and the theory of planned reason [36,37], used in the study of behavior the IMB model which has been validated extensively, provides a more comprehensive model for identifying socio-cognitive predictors of behavior outcomes (such as political engagement behavior) that are of theoretical and empirical importance [30,[38][39][40]. Moreover, the IMB model has been applicable to behaviors outside the political engagement domain such as, HIV prevention behavior [30,39,[41][42][43][44], breast self-examination behavior among women [32], adolescence smoking behavior [45] and oral rehydration behavior in developing countries [46].…”