HIV/STD risk among incarcerated adolescents: Optimism about the future and self-esteem as predictors of condom use self-efficacy

We tested a psychosocial model of condom-use intentions among incarcerated adolescents, who are at exceptionally high risk for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Incarcerated adolescents (n = 150: 139 male, 11 female; age = 13 to 17 years; 44% Hispanic, 39% Caucasian) provided face-to-face interviews. The model included past condom use and 2 classes of constructs: (a) general health-behavior-related constructs; and (b) sub-population-relevant developmental predictors. Affective attitudes, descriptive norms, and self-efficacy for condom use predicted intentions directly. Mediational linkages from optimism about the future and self-esteem through self-efficacy to intentions were confirmed. Two characterizations of the relationship of attitudes to intentions were explored, yielding 2 models that accounted for between 45% and 51% of variance in intentions.