Using a self-report questionnaire, we assessed fear of AIDS in Australian children and adolescents. Recently, the participants had been subjected to a community education program featuring frightening televised advertisements. A high level of fear was reported by 65 9% of the respondents. Girls reported a significantly greater mean fear than boys. Fear of AIDS was not significantly influenced by developmental factors. Given the design and measures, it was not possible to specify the origins of the fear response.
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