Discriminant Attitudes and Beliefs about Condoms in Young, Multi-Partner Heterosexuals (original) (raw)
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Differences Between Condom Users and Condom Nonusers in Their Multidimensional Condom Attitudes
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2005
In two studies, we examined multidimensional condom attitudes of college students separately for (a) condom users vs. condom nonusers, (b) women vs. men, and (c) partnered individuals vs. single individuals (Study I). Almost all single people (97%) expected to use condoms during each incident of sexual intercourse during the next 2 months. Across both studies, condom users were distinguished from nonusers by the attitude that condom use would interfere with sexual pleasure, and by skepticism that they would be able to use condoms in the face of obstacles (i.e.. the action-maintenance dimension of condom attitudes). These effects held for expected future condom use, as well as current condom use. One gender difference also emerged across both studies: Men were more concerned about condoms interfering with sexual pleasure than were women. Implications for condom-use promotion are discussed.
BMC public health, 2013
Background: The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection amongst young adults represents an important public health problem in the UK. Individuals' attitude towards the use of condoms has been identified as an important determinant of behavioural intentions and action. The Theory of Planned Behaviour has been widely used to explain and predict health behaviour. This posits that the degree to which an individual positively or negatively values a behaviour (termed 'direct attitude') is based upon consideration of the likelihood of a number of outcomes occurring (outcome expectancy) weighted by the perceived desirability of those outcomes (outcome evaluation). Outcome expectancy and outcome evaluation when multiplied form 'indirect attitude'. The study aimed to assess whether positive outcome expectancies of unprotected sex were more important for young adults with lower safe sex intentions, than those with safer sex intentions, and to isolate optimal outcomes for targeting through health promotion campaigns. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Data was collected from 1051 school and university students aged 16-24 years. Measures of intention, direct attitude and indirect attitude were taken. Participants were asked to select outcome expectancies which were most important in determining whether they would use condoms with casual sexual partners. Results: People with lower safe sex intentions were more likely than those with safer sex intentions to select all positive outcome expectancies for unprotected sex as salient, and less likely to select all negative outcome expectancies as salient. Outcome expectancies for which the greatest proportion of participants in the less safe sex group held an unfavourable position were: showing that I am a caring person, making sexual experiences less enjoyable, and protecting against pregnancy. Conclusions: The findings point to ways in which the attitudes of those with less safe sex intentions could be altered in order to motivate positive behavioural change. They suggest that it would be advantageous to highlight the potential for condom use to demonstrate a caring attitude, to challenge the potential for protected sex to reduce sexual pleasure, and to target young adults' risk appraisals for pregnancy as a consequence of unprotected sex with casual sexual partners.
Sexual Health, 2011
Background: The purpose of this study was to develop an abbreviated reliable tool for assessing the attitudes US college-aged men and women have about condoms and condom use. Method: An online questionnaire was constructed and completed by 674 participants incorporating modified items from the Attitudes Towards Condom Scale (1984) and the Multidimensional Condom Attitude Scale (1994), with the addition of gender-neutral worded and condom positive or erotic items. Results: The original 40 items were reduced to 18 Likert-type items comprising the Brief Condom Attitude Scale (BCAS). Gender comparisons on a subset of 584 self-identified heterosexual participants indicated that women were significantly more likely to consider condoms as less protective, while men were significantly more likely to consider condoms as more interruptive. Additional analyses examining partnership indicated that monogamous participants were significantly more likely to view condoms as less interruptive, more erotic and less negative than non-monogamous participants. Conclusions: The BCAS appears to be a reliable measure for assessing US college-aged individuals' attitudes about condoms.
Sexually Transmitted Infections, 1989
The use of condoms to prevent the further spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is one of the main themes of the government's health education campaign against AIDS. A study of the use of and attitudes towards condoms in 222 heterosexual men and women attending a department of genitourinary medicine (GUM) in central London showed that 55% (50/ 91) to 59% (41/70) ofmen orwomen never, and 6% (6/95) to 15% (14/91) always, used condoms with their regular or non-regular sexual partners. No major differences were found in the use ofor attitudes to condoms according to age, sex, social class, or civil status. Attitudes towards the use of condoms were generally negative. These attitudes, in combination with the infrequent use of condoms with regular (and even more with non-regular) sexual partners, must be a cause for concern if the further spread of HIV is to be avoided.
Measures of Attitudes Toward and Communication about Condom Use
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2016
Objective-To construct and test measures of psychosocial mediators that could be used in intervention studies seeking to promote safer sex behavior among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). Methods-YBMSM (N=400), ages 18-29 years, were recruited from an STI clinic, in the Southern U.S. All men had engaged in penile-anal sex with a male as a "top" in the past 6 months. Men completed an audio-computer assisted self-interview and provided specimens used for NAAT testing to detect Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Four measures were constructed and tested for criterion validity (Safer Sex Communication, Condom Turn-Offs, Condom Pleasure Scale, and a single item assessing frequency of condom use discussions before sexual arousal). Results-With the exception of Safer Sex Communication, all of the measures showed criterion validity for both unprotected anal insertive, and unprotected anal receptive sex. With the exception of the Condom Turn-Offs, the three other measures were supported by criterion validity for oral sex. Both the Condom Turn-Offs and Condom Pleasure Scale were significantly related to whether or not men reported multiple partners as a "top" but only the Condom Pleasure Scale was associated with reports of multiple partners as a "bottom." Only the Condom Turn-Offs Scale was positively associated with having been diagnosed with either Chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Health Education Research, 2005
The aims of this exploratory qualitative study were to increase our understanding of heterosexual young adults' knowledge and beliefs about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV, to explore their beliefs about the factors that influence condom use for STI prevention, and to explore their ideas about how best to promote condom use for STI prevention. Data came from a qualitative study that used 11 group discussions with 53 heterosexual men and women aged 18-25. Respondents thought that STI infection and unplanned pregnancy were equally likely, but were less concerned about STIs than unplanned pregnancy. Respondents gave several reasons for their low levels of concern about STIs. They also suggested several means to promote condom use for STI prevention. They supported multi-faceted condom promotion campaigns, using multiple styles of communication and a variety of media. The range of suggestions given by participants suggests that rather than employing a 'one size fits all' strategy, a variety of different approaches are needed to promote condom use for STI prevention.
Use of the Male Condom by Heterosexual Adolescents and Young People: Literature Review
Journal of Advanced …, 2007
Title. Use of the male condom by heterosexual adolescents and young people: literature review Aim. This paper is a report of a literature review to explore issues influencing condom use in heterosexual adolescents and young people. Background. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major international health issue and adolescents and young people are particularly vulnerable. Efforts to address the rapid spread of STIs have largely focused on promoting the use of condoms as a protective 'safer sex' measure. However, use of the male condom is still inconsistent and the incidence of STIs continues to increase. Method. A search of the literature using EBSCO Host databases was undertaken in 2006, with a focus on women, young people, condoms and STIs. Papers published in English from 1992 to 2006 were sought. Only research papers are included in this review.
American Journal of Public Health, 1989
A survey of 759 women attending contraceptive care clinics revealed that a majority of women endorsed condom use as an important way to reduce the spread of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome); 82 per cent reported past use of condoms, but only 14 per cent reported using condoms in addition to another form of contraception to prevent infection with sexually transmitted pathogens, including HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Acceptance of condom advertisement, perceived male and peer acceptance of condoms, and the effect of condom use on the enjoyment of sexual intercourse predicted condom use.