Gay Asian Australians’ Safer‐Sex Behavior and Behavioral Skills: The Predictive Utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior and Cultural Factors1

Abstract

United States reports highlight that Asian Americans’ increasing HIV‐infection rate results primarily from male‐to‐male sexual contact. Cultural factors, such as strength of identification with the Asian community, have been implicated. The ability of these and the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985) and information‐motivation‐behavioral skills model (Fisher & Fisher, 1992) to predict safe sex intentions and behavior were investigated among gay Asian Australians. Consistent with the theory of planned behavior, attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral skills predicted intentions, while behavioral skills predicted current behavior. Cultural factors were related to components of the model. Notably, strength of identification with the gay community moderated the norm‐intention link and was related to behavioral skills. The results suggest it is important to examine the predictors of safe sex behavior for different cultural groups.