Condom use behavioural skills mediate the relationship between condom use motivation and condom use behaviour among young adult heterosexual males: An information-motivation-behavioural skills analysis

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This study examined the relationship between condom use motivation and condom use behavioural skills, and their direct and mediated influence on condom use consistency from the perspective of the Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills (IMB) model of health behaviour. Participants were 149 currently sexually active heterosexual males aged 18–24 (M=18.6). The motivation component of the IMB model was operationalized with measures of attitudes toward condoms and perceptions of social norms, while assessing the implementation of negotiation strategies that can be used to obtain or avoid condom use operationalized the behavioural skills component. Results indicated that condom use motivation was positively correlated with specific condom use obtaining strategies, and condom use consistency was negatively correlated with certain condom use avoiding strategies. Moreover, specific condom negotiation strategies partially mediated the relationships between motivational constructs and condom use consistency. These findings confirm the propositions of the IMB model, illustrate the utility of measurement of behavioural skills in relation to implementation of specific actions, and highlight the need for interventions to focus on dyadic negotiation and communication strategies as important influences on condom use consistency. Implications for future research and theoretical refinement are discussed.