The Role of Young Adults' Pleasure Attitudes in Shaping Condom Use

Am J Public Health. 2015 Jul;105(7):1329-32. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302567. Epub 2015 May 14.

Abstract

Condoms can help young adults protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. We examined young people's attitudes about whether condoms reduced pleasure and how these attitudes shape condom practices. We used a nationally representative sample of 2328 heterosexually active, unmarried 15- to 24-year-old young adults to document multivariate associations with condom nonuse at the last sexual episode. For both young men and women, pleasure-related attitudes were more strongly associated with lack of condom use than all sociodemographic or sexual history factors. Research and interventions should consistently assess and address young people's attitudes about how condoms affect pleasure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pleasure*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult