sarily perceive themselves in this way.
What are the potential consequences of unprotected sex? Besides pregnancy, they are other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as HIV infection. The most clearly life threatening, however, is HIV. In looking at the process of HIV infection and progression to the development of full blown AIDS, a number of models have been developed in order to understand the stages through which the individual passes. For example, McKusick (1991) discussed HIV/AIDS in terms of six separate stages which begin with the decision to test for the HIV antibody. For the adolescent who obtains a positive result, this can be a shattering occasion. At that point, the response of the individual can be to freeze and become paralyzed and despondent. For the adolescent, that kind of diagnosis can feel like an immediate death sentence.
It is almost certainly a guarantee of a very short life. Although there are treatments available now for slowing the disease process, there are still no known cures for AIDS. As a consequence, adolescent development after HIV infection probably takes a very different course than the normal developmental process. The adolescent realizes that his or her life course is truncated and this reduces the time available for experimentation. The time available may also be experienced with various degrees of physical disability, and even mental disorders, although these are less common. The final stage of the process that McKusick (1991) discussed is coming to terms with the end of life. Again, this will probably not be experienced by the adolescent during adolescence, although there are certainly young people who have been infected with HIV during childhood who must deal with this issue.
Although they create fewer long term health problems, and certainly less risk of death, eating disorders are a significant problem within the adolescent population. While eating disorders impact ma...