Integrating Personality and Psychosocial Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Safer Sexual Behavior: Implications for Message Design

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to propose and conduct tests of a multivariate model of condom use utilizing data from 2 independent samples of young adults (City 1, N = 746; City 2, N = 743). The model examined the relations between personality characteristics, including sexual sensation seeking and sexual impulsive decision making; psychosocial variables, including condom attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy; and condom use behaviors, including carrying, communicating about, and using condoms. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated a good fit for both models (Confirmatory Fit Index =. 93; Average Absolute Standardized Residuals =. 05 for both), with each explaining 25% of the variance (R ² =. 25) in condom use behaviors. Results support the fusion of personality and psychosocial approaches to gain a broader theoretical understanding of condom use in young adults. In addition, those developing and implementing health communication campaigns may find sexual sensation seeking and sexual impulsive decision making to be fruitful variables on which to target messages aimed at increasing safer sexual behavior.