Sexual Arousal-Delay Discounting

When Condoms Delay Arousal

Bibliographic Data

ID10210341
AuthorsNioud Mulugeta Gebru (0000-0002-9335-2667, Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health), Val Wongsomboon (0000-0002-9467-9952, Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume61
Issue5
Pages727-741
Publication date2023-07-28
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Sex Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4499 • E-ISSN: 1559-8519
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00224499.2023.2239216
PMID37506314
OpenAlexW4385335612
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited39

Sexual arousal plays an important role in condom use decisions. However, combined effects of reduced sexual arousal and delay to achieving arousal on condom use decisions remain understudied. This study used a novel sexual arousal-delay discounting (SADD) task to measure individuals' willingness to use a condom in situations where condom use would (1) delay time to arousal and (2) reduce the level of arousal one could achieve even after the delay (e.g., 5 minutes to reach 50% arousal). In Study 1, U.S. college students (N = 115; M age = 18.6) reported their willingness to have sex with a condom in hypothetical scenarios where the condom delayed and reduced their partner's sexual arousal. In Study 2, U.S. college students (N = 208; M age = 19.6; 99% ≤ 24 years old) completed the same task for two partners-partner perceived as most desirable and partner perceived as least likely to have an STI. In this study, a condom would affect either participants' own or partner's arousal. Study 3 replicated Study 2 using a non-college sample in the U.S. (N = 227; M age = 30.5; 84% ≥ 25 years old). Across studies, willingness to use a condom decreased as the delay to reduced arousal increased. This effect of SADD was stronger when condoms reduced participants' own (vs. partner's) arousal, whereas comparisons between most desirable and least likely-to-have-STI partners provided mixed findings. Men had higher discounting rates than women across conditions. Greater SADD was associated with lower condom use self-efficacy, providing initial evidence for the task's validity. The role of delayed arousal in condom use and implications are discussed

Arousal · Audiology · Delay discounting · Developmental psychology · Discounting · Economics · Sexual arousal · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Medicine · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology

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