A Question of Love and Trust? The Role of Relationship Factors in Adolescent Sexual Decision Making

Overview

Journal J Dev Behav Pediatr

Specialties Pediatrics
Social Sciences

Date 2015 Jun 27

PMID 26114614

Citations 11

Authors

Sarah W Feldstein Ewing

Angela D Bryan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: While representing only 25% of the sexually active population, 50% of all new sexually transmitted infections occur among young people mostly because of inconsistent condom use. Critically, the majority of adolescent sexual activity takes place in the context of romantic relationships; thus, it is important to understand how relationship factors may influence decision making about the use of protection.

Methods: We used a mixed-method approach to investigate the extent to which relationship length, degree of trust or love in the relationship, and frequency of intercourse influence both perceptions of the probability of condom use and self-reported condom use in the context of relationships among a diverse sample of high-risk adolescents (age 12-19 yr).

Results: Participants were least likely to use condoms if they were in relationships with high trust or love and high frequency of intercourse. Importantly, sexual experience status was a strong moderator of primary effects.

Conclusion: The perspective of motivated cognition provides a useful theoretical framework to better understand adolescent decision making about condom use, particularly for sexually experienced youth.

Citing Articles

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Attitudes Toward the Uptake of Combination HIV Prevention Methods Among Young Black and Latino Heterosexual Couples Living in New York City: A Qualitative Study.

Lanier Y, Lui N, Zhong J, Rivera-Cash D, Cornelius T, Stewart J J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2024; 35(3):281-293.

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Teaching About Contraception: Adolescent Attitudes Surrounding Sexual Education.

Zeglin A, Lazebnik R Open Access J Contracept. 2023; 14:181-188.

PMID: 38059115 PMC: 10697143. DOI: 10.2147/OAJC.S402443.

Dimensions of Sexual Health Conversations among U.S. Black Heterosexual Couples.

LeBlanc N, Vil N, Bond K, Mitchell J, Juarez A, Lambert F Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1).

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Applying a Nursing Perspective to Address the Challenges Experienced by Cisgender Women in the HIV Status Neutral Care Continuum: A Review of the Literature.

Bond K, Chandler R, Chapman-Lambert C, Jemmott L, Lanier Y, Cao J J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2021; 32(3):283-305.

PMID: 33929979 PMC: 10688540. DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000243.

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