An Exploration of Condom Use Intentions among Boys’ Senior High-School Students Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior: Examining the Moderating Effects of Sexual Orientation and Gender Characteristic
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Cheng, Chien-Mu
Abstract
Objectives: This study explored condom use intentions among boys’ senior high-school students by applying the direct and indirect measures of the three constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB): Attitude toward the Behavior, Subjective Norm, and Perceived Behavioral Control. The potential moderating effects of sexual orientation and gender characteristic were also examined. Methods: Anonymous survey data were collected from students enrolled in a boys’ senior high school in Taiwan March 2014. A total of 929 valid responses were received (response rate: 89.9%). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: When the TPB direct measures were applied, a relatively neutral (AOR = 3.37) or positive (AOR = 8.17) attitude toward the behavior, and a relatively neutral (AOR = 1.56) or supportive (AOR = 2.35) subjective norm, were found significantly associated with higher condom use intentions. When the TPB indirect measures were applied, five factors were extracted. Among them, attitudinal evaluations of positive behavioral outcomes, general subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control over facilitating conditions were significantly associated with condom use intentions to varying degrees. Also, both sexual orientation and gender characteristic (masculine/feminine) had significant moderating effects on condom use intentions. For example, when the TPB direct measures were applied, non-heterosexuals with a relatively supportive subjective norm (AOR = 0.23) and feminine students with an intermediate level of perceived behavioral control (AOR = 0.50) would significantly decrease their condom use intentions, and such interactions were statistically significant. Conclusions: Using the TPB as the theoretical framework, this study found that attitudes toward the behavior and subjective norms were strongly associated with condom use intentions among boys’ senior high-school students. Perceived behavioral control had significant effects only when the indirect measures were applied. In addition, sexual orientation and gender characteristic had important moderating effects. The empirical findings of this study could inform future health education programs to increase condom use intentions in the male student population.
Subjects
Theory of Planned Behavior
boys’ senior high-school students
condom use intentions
sexual orientation
gender characteristic (masculine/feminine)
Type
thesis
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