Comfort and embarrassment in condom use in short, medium and long-term relationships

Author

Kate Sipma

Graduation Date

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Counseling, 2010

Committee Chair Name

Lou Ann Wieand

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Condoms, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Psychology, STDs, Relationship lengths, AIDS

Abstract

Studies of condom use, as a major means of prevention of STDs including HIV/AIDS, continually demonstrate widespread awareness of the effectiveness of condoms. However, this knowledge has little to no impact upon actual condom use. Surveys of sexual behavior have had limited usefulness in explaining why there is such a large discrepancy between knowledge and behavior in this arena. The purpose of this study was to look at relationship length, condom use and embarrassment and comfort while using a condom to get a better understanding of why some sexually active people are still deciding not to use condoms and potentially passing on STDs. Two-hundred and twenty sexually active adults from Humboldt State University participated in this study. Participants completed an anonymous on-line survey composed of a two part Sexual Intercourse Summery, as well as the Attitudes Toward Condoms Scale (Brown 1984), with its five subscales measuring; safety, comfort, embarrassment, sexual arousal/excitement, and interruption of sexual activity. This study found that people in short-term relationships reported using condoms more than people in medium and long-term relationships. Scores indicated that males in short term-relationships show less embarrassment than males in long-term relationships. Males also reported more negative overall attitudes toward condoms and higher levels of embarrassment towards condoms than females. Participants who used condoms had more of an overall favorable attitude toward condoms than those who did not use condoms. Also, participants who reported using condoms were on average, younger than participants who reported not using condoms.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/0z708z366

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