Is safer sex necessary with a “safe” partner? Condom use and romantic feelings

A potential reason why people who know that condom use reduces the likelihood of contracting AIDS do not use condoms was investigated in this study. People who felt more positively about their romantic partners (e.g., loved and trusted them more) were expected to be less fearful of contracting AIDS and to be less likely to use condoms compared to people who felt less positively about their partners. One hundred college women and 81 college men completed questionnaires concerning their feelings about their romantic partners, their use of condoms within that relationship, their concerns about AIDS, and their attitudes about condoms. Results of canonical correlation analyses indicated that participants who had less positive feelings toward their partners were more concerned about AIDS, and participants who were more concerned about AIDS were more influenced by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and AIDS as a reason for using condoms. Thus, participants who felt more positively about their partners and their relationships were both less concerned about AIDS and less influenced by it. The possible cessation of condom use as trust develops in the relationship is discussed, as are implications for educational programs on safer sex.