Let’s Talk About Condoms: Incorporating Communication Into the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Condom Use Among African American Women

• In Event: Sexual Health Communication: Consent, Pledges, Safe Sex, Contraceptives

Abstract

The present research extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to investigate how communication-related variables influence condom use intention and behavior among African American women. According to the TPB, attitudes, subjective norms and self-efficacy predict behavioral intent, which predicts behavior. For women, we argued that condom negotiation self-efficacy was more important than condom use self-efficacy. Second, fears associated with negotiating condom use were predicted to be negatively associated with attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy. African American women (N = 560; M age = 20.58) completed assessments of TPB variables at baseline and then condom use three months later. Condom negotiation self-efficacy was a significant predictor of behavioral intent while condom use self-efficacy was not. Fear of condom negotiation was negatively associated with all TPB components, which in turn significantly predicted behavioral intent and condom use. Implications for safer sex literature and STI/HIV prevention intervention design are discussed.

Keywords: TPB, condom use, condom negotiation self-efficacy, fear of condom negotiation, African American women

Authors

• Mengfei Guan, University of Georgia

• Valerie Berenice Coles

• Jennifer A. Samp, U of Georgia

• Jessica McDermott Sales, Emory U

• Ralph J. DiClemente, Emory U

• Jennifer L. Monahan, U of Georgia