Comfort and embarrassment in condom use in short, medium and long-term relationships
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.
Recommended Citation
Sipma, Kate, "Comfort and embarrassment in condom use in short, medium and long-term relationships" (2010). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2202.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2202
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/0z708z366