Predicting Intentions to Use Condoms Using Gender, Sexual Experience, and the Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract

This study examined condom use intentions among a large diverse group of African American adolescents and provides useful information to assist in the development of effective HIV prevention interventions. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we explored which constructs are important in shaping intentions to use condoms for younger versus older, female versus male, and sexually experienced versus sexually inexperienced African American youth (n=832). Youth were recruited from inner city schools (n=666) and church youth groups (n=166). Findings indicate that improving subjective norms will be effective with all groups, whereas interventions to improve perceived behavioral control are likely to have an impact on all except sexually experienced girls. Attitudes toward condom use were associated with condom intentions, but only among sexually experienced youth. Prevention programs could greatly increase their efficacy by creating modules that focus on the needs of specific groups when identification of important characteristics (e.g., sexual experience) is possible. Our results indicate that sexually experienced girls may require the most specialized approaches.