To examine risk for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in terms of risk-related behaviors, and to investigate the factors that may be involved in putting one at risk, a study conducted telephone interviews with 493 randomly selected adults (18 years or older) in Austin, Texas in the fall of 1987. Respondents answered approximately 40 questions. An index of risk (defined as the extent to which an individual reported behaviors that put him or her at risk of getting AIDS) was formed from responses to five questions concerning sexual behavior, blood transfusions, and intravenous drug use over the past seven years. Other measures consisted of: "risky" attitudes toward AIDS; knowledge of AIDS; and exposure to each of three major daily news media (newspapers, and local and national television news programs). Results revealed that a majority of the variance in risk for AIDS was predicted by demographics and lifestyles, issue salience, knowledge of AIDS, and attitudes toward gambling with one's health. Significantly influencing risk for AIDS were the salience of the AIDS issue, newspaper use, and a gambling attitude. (Four tables of data and 33 references are appended.) (MM)