The Health Belief Model (HBM) has been applied to diverse sets of health behaviors. Research that suggests difficulties of the HBM in predicting future behaviors, especially HIV-related, is reviewed. Prominent features of adolescence that influence HIV-related risk behaviors are discussed including: cognitive immaturity, struggle for psychological autonomy, peer influences, and physical development. It is suggested that a model is needed to guide prevention efforts, and that these adolescent-specific factors need to be incorporated into any such model.