Introduction:
Youth are now among the most at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Approximately half of the indi­viduals with HIV diagnosis became infected before the age of 25 years. The current qualitative study was conducted to identify emotional aspects of HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) risky behaviors in Iranian young people.

Material and methods:
Data were collected among young people to explore emotional aspects of HIV/AIDS risky behaviors using directed content analysis. Study population consisted of youth considered key informants and willing to participate in the current study. To improve the results and data saturation, other participants were also enrolled, including parents, family members, friends, and relatives of young people as well as counselors, infectious disease specialists, coaches, university professors, and those with whom these young people were in contact. An in-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interview was implemented as the primary data collection technique.

Results:
The study cohort consisted of 43 individuals, including 23 females and 20 males, with a mean age of 30.19 years. Of the 43 participants, 29 (67.4%) were single, 11 (25.6%) were married, and 3 (7.0%) were divorced. In examining the factors contributing to high-risk behaviors associated with HIV/AIDS, individual characteristics played a significant role, among which emotions emerged as a crucial factor. Persons engaging in high-risk behaviors often exhibited diverse characteristics, such as individualism, excitement, impulsiveness, and curiosity. These emotional dimensions can influence decision-making and risk-taking behaviors, potentially impacting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Conclusions:
Individual factors, including personality traits, play a significant role in the emergence and persistence of high-risk behaviors, which lead to HIV/AIDS in young people. The results of the current study may be useful for researchers in HIV/AIDS prevention.