Comparative analysis between condom use clusters and risk behaviours among Portuguese university students

Bibliographic Data

ID3097761
AuthorsAlexandra Gomes (0000-0003-1277-6730, University of Algarve), Cristiana Nunes (0000-0002-1009-0519, University of Algarve), Cristina Nunes (0000-0003-4667-7060, University of Algarve)
Year2015
Volume24
Issue1
Pages350-360
Publication date2015-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSaúde e Sociedade (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0104-1290 • E-ISSN: 1984-0470
PublisherFapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1590/s0104-12902015000100027
OpenAlexW2091551274
SciELOS0104-12902015000100350
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited37

The research on condom use has been focused on high-risk individuals, paying less attention to those who have moderate risk or safe sexual conducts. In order to design accurate interventions, potential differences among the condom use behavior groups must be considered. The goal was to assess possible differences in individuals presenting different types of risk behavior. 140 heterosexual university students answered a self-reported questionnaire about their sexual history, condom use habits, sexual self-esteem, sexual satisfaction, sexual control, attitudes towards condoms, self-efficacy to condom use, and emotions and feelings during sexual intercourse. A cluster analysis was conducted using the results about condom use and risk behaviors. Three groups with different risk levels emerged, presenting differences over sexual self-efficacy, attitudes towards condoms, socio-demographic variables, and sexual history. The results suggest the condom use inconsistency is highly associated with other risk behaviors but the contrary does not necessarily happens. Condom use consistent users also presented risk behaviors as smoking and drinking. The group differences suggest the risks were more affected by the combination of lack of skills with a negative attitude toward condoms than by contextual or personal variables. These differences sustain the need of an intervention adjusted to the individual's risk levels, since they differ on skills and beliefs that may hinder or promote the adoption of health behaviors

Condom · Developmental psychology · Family medicine · Feeling · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Intervention (counseling) · Portuguese · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology

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