A survey of over 85% questionnaire returns from a random sample of two college populations indicated that 40% were blood donors (compared with 3% nationally) and 60% nondonors. Motivations for donors were: humanitarian, peer pressure, and curiosity experience. Motivations of nondonors were: legitimate medical excuses, fear of needle, general apprehension, and fear of aftereffects. Recommendations for blood procurement agencies are discussed.

Telephone interviews elicited information on motivational responses of blood donors and nondonors from a completely random sample of an entire community. Results indicated that more males than females are current donors and that 63 per cent of the males and 89 per cent of the females who have donated previously have become nondonors. Most donors express no fears before donating and state direct appeal, convenience, and peer pressure as the motivational aspects that caused them to donate in the first place, and altruism as the major reason for continuing to donate. The two largest categories mentioned by nondonors for inhibiting their donating were medical disqualification and fear. When both donors and nondonors made suggestions for improving blood donor recruitment, they tended to mention publicity (including education), emergency appeal, and personal solicitation. The first two were not mentioned by actual donors as to what motivated them to give blood initially. Blood procurement agencies should, therefore, be aware of a distinction between actual motivating factors and those that are only hypothetical.

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The present survey based on 70% returns (N = 140) of a random sample of 200 women at one college indicated that, although 5% had been date raped, none reported the rapes to authorities due to feelings of self-blame and embarrassment. That rapes are not reported perpetuates a self-fulfilling prophecy that rapes do not occur. A victim of rape may feel she is the only one and may be reluctant to become the exception who reports. This denial by both collage authorities and victims does not encourage programs for prevention and treatment.

Ninety-five percent of all blood donors are Caucasian. To investigate why minorities are under-represented as blood donors, a random sample of 120 minority college students were surveyed about attitudes and behavior regarding blood donations. This sample of minority students had donated blood at the same rate (33%) and for the same positive motivation (altruism) and negative motivations (for those who did not donate--fear, medical excuses, didn't think of it, no time) as Caucasian donors. The low rate of blood donations by minorities is not due to their membership in ethnic groups per se, but to other variables such as education and socioeconomic level. A recruitment strategy based on the results of this study is presented.