Young Women's Condom Use: The Influence of Acceptance of Sexuality, Control over the Sexual Encounter, and Perceived Susceptibility to Common STDs

A comprehensive model of the determinants of condom use among young women was developed, tested, and replicated, with longitudinal follow-up to assess predictive utility of the model for condom use over time. Participants in Study 1 and Study 2 were 198 female undergraduates (mean age, 18.6 years) and 238 female undergraduates (mean age, 19.1 years), respectively. Acceptance of sexuality and control over the sexual encounter were related to a multidimensional measure of condom use self-efficacy, which predicted condom use intentions. Perceived susceptibility to STDs was both directly related to intentions and indirectly related through perceived benefits and attitudes about condom use. Intentions predicted subsequent reports of condom use. The model suggests foci for condom use interventions for young women.