An Examination of the Effects of the Sexual Double Standard on College Students' Condom Use

An Examination of the Effects of the Sexual Double Standard on College Students' Condom Use

Author: Cahryn Anderson

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 14

ISBN-13:

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Men and women have historically been held to different standards regarding sexual behavior, known as the sexual double standard. Women have typically been judged more harshly than men for engaging in similar sexual behavior. Both genders report higher levels of sexual activity and more liberal attitudes since the 1940s. Males historically report engaging in more sexual activity than females. However, current studies indicate both genders are engaging in similar levels of sexual activity, although men continue to report slightly higher levels. It is unclear whether attitudes and judgments related to gender and sexuality have kept pace with reported behavior changes. The documented increase in sexual activity for men and women has coincided with a dramatic increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Consistent condom use during all forms of sexual activity has been recommended as the most reliable method of pregnancy and STD prevention. However, many individuals report inconsistent condom use. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the potential role the sexual double standard may play in the inconsistent use of condoms in college women. Undergraduate students were asked to read one of three vignettes (male provides condom, female provides condom, no condom was used) in which a casual sexual encounter was described. After reading the vignette, participants completed adjective ratings of the vignette actors, as well as measures of attitudes toward gender and sexuality, sexual history, and demographics. Contrary to expectations, results indicated that females were judged to be more likeable when she provided the condom compared to when no condom was used and more diplomatic when she provided the condom when compared to when no condom was used or when the male provided the condom. Males were equally liked across all condom conditions, and were rated as more diplomatic when providing the condom versus when no condom was used. Unexpectedly, neither judgments of the vignette actors nor attitudes toward gender and sexuality were predictive of personal sexual history. These findings suggest that gender differences in sexual behavior may be quite small, and that standards for sexual behavior are more equal than has been previously documented.


The Examination of Safe Sex Message Appeals, Sex, and Emotional Responses on College Students' Condom Use Attitudes, Intentions, and Self-efficacy

The Examination of Safe Sex Message Appeals, Sex, and Emotional Responses on College Students' Condom Use Attitudes, Intentions, and Self-efficacy

Author: Danyele Renee Shelton

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 155

ISBN-13:

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Inconsistency in the sexual risk prevention literature indicated that there was a need for additional research identifying factors that will increase safe sex behaviors; particularly, condom use, in young adults. The present study attempted to expand the sexual risk prevention literature by examining the impact of different safe sex advertisements and biological sex on the condom use attitudes, condom use intentions, condom use self-efficacy, negative and positive emotional responses of young adults as well as explore the influence of negative and positive emotional responses on the condom use attitudes, condom use intentions, and condom use self-efficacy of young adults. Five hypotheses were examined using a sample of 203 young adults. MANOVA and regression analyses were conducted to examine the study hypotheses. There was partial support for Hypotheses 1 and 3; indicating that female participants reported more positive condom use attitudes than male participants, participants in the negative emotional advertisement and positive emotional advertisement groups reported more positive condom use attitudes than those in the rational advertisement group, and that the negative emotion of guilt was related to condom use attitudes. Hypotheses 2, 4, and 5 were not upheld. Overall, the present study results provide some support for the influence of biological sex, advertisement type, and guilt on the condom use attitudes of young adults. The need to explore different safe sex advertisement formats and more diverse samples of young adults was discussed, including implications and recommendations for future research.


The Effects of Symbolic Modeling on Self-efficacy Beliefs to Negotiate Condom Use Among College-aged Women

The Effects of Symbolic Modeling on Self-efficacy Beliefs to Negotiate Condom Use Among College-aged Women

Author: Diane Rachel Lake

Publisher:

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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AIDS is a serious health threat to college-aged people, due to their risky sexual behavior. To date, there remains no cure for AIDS, thus the only available weapon against the disease is education. Studies show that college students have knowledge and awareness of AIDS, but still do not practice safer sex by using condoms. This study tests the effects of symbolic modeling, a component of self-efficacy theory, on college-aged women's beliefs of self-efficacy that they can negotiate condom use with their partners. The study consists of an experiment comparing two different types of symbolic modeling, verbal and behavioral, and testing for the effectiveness of each in raising participants' levels of self-efficacy


To Use Or Not to Use

To Use Or Not to Use

Author: Kristina B. Hood

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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The current project involved three studies designed to examine which characteristics of persuasive communications change condom use attitudes. Study 1 investigated the effect of message type (affective versus cognitive) and source (male versus female) on attitude change among a sample of African American women attending college. In Study 1 (N = 146), the affective message and female source produced the most positive change in condom use attitudes. Study 2 examined whether message type and source were associated with favorable condom attitudes in a community sample and whether these findings differed from a college sample. Twenty-seven women participated in group discussions and completed measures of attitudes and intentions. Similar to Study 1, the pattern of means in Study 2 showed the affective message delivered by the female source resulted in the most positive condom use attitude change. These results were not significant likely due to the small sample. Focus groups were also conducted to better understand the types of condom use messages African American women find effective. Several themes emerged: condom used primarily for pregnancy prevention; negative condom use attitudes; communicating messages through internet, TV, and radio; creating fun, catchy, and informative messages; using celebrities and peers to deliver messages; and increasing the frequency of messages to equal importance of topic. The third study assessed the effectiveness of an attitude change pilot intervention that was based on the results of Studies 1 and 2. The study used a 2 (intervention vs. control) X 3 (pretest, posttest, follow-up) mixed factorial design to examine whether women0́9s attitudes changed after a pilot session and whether the change persisted over time. African American women (N = 115) were recruited through Craigslist and community agencies. There were no significant differences across time for the intervention and the control group. Reasons for the lack of an effect in Study 3 are discussed. Taken together, these studies provide evidence that, under certain conditions an affective message delivered by a female source can change attitudes toward using condoms. The results of these studies could potentially enhance existing interventions by renewing a focus on changing attitudes as well as behavior.


Safer Sex Among College Undergraduates

Safer Sex Among College Undergraduates

Author: Adrian Liau

Publisher:

Published: 1994

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13:

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The theory of planned behavior was used in this study to determine the intentions of undergraduates to use condoms during sexual activity. This theory states that behavior is a result of intention and intention is influenced by attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived control of the behavior. Three hypotheses related to the theory were tested. The first hypothesis states that the theory of planned behavior can be used to predict intentions to use comdoms. Results provided partial support for this hypothesis: Perceived control was not significantly related to behavioral intentions. A second hypothesis was that the theory of planned behavior is a better predictor than an earlier version of the theory, the theory of reasoned action. Results showed that both theories could equally predict condom usage among undergraduates. A third hypothesis was that the underlying beliefs of males and females, as well as those who intend to use condoms and those don't intend to use condoms, would differ. Multivariate analyses showed that these differences were most significant regarding the outcome beliefs of the subjects. Two other hypotheses of interest are whether single undergraduates with more than one partner are more likely to use condoms than those with only one partner, and whether those who rate their chances of getting AIDS as high are more likely to use condoms than those who rate their chances as low. Results indicate no support for the above hypotheses.


Adolescents and AIDS

Adolescents and AIDS

Author: Ralph J. DiClemente

Publisher: SAGE Publications, Incorporated

Published: 1992-07-06

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13:

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There hasn't been a resource to inform readers about the HIV risk confronting our adolescent population--until now! In Adolescents and AIDS, leading researchers in health, medicine, sociology, and psychology describe the risks to this vulnerable population. Divided into three parts (epidemiology, prevention/risk reduction, and policy), this comprehensive book addresses not only adolescents in general, but includes specific chapters on high-risk populations such as minority, incarcerated and homeless youth. The authors explore the data and theoretical underpinnings necessary for designing and implementing effective risk-reduction and prevention programs by approaching the AIDS epidemic as a social and developmental crisis that adolescents are ill-prepared to address. While proposing appropriate theoretical models for behavior change, the book also evaluates the effectiveness of various intervention strategies ranging from school-based programs to mass-media approaches and offers public policy recommendations for intervening for this population. Health professionals, researchers, policy analysts, clinicians, counselors, and students will find this timely text a valuable resource.