Sexual Behaviors, Decisional Balance, and Self-efficacy Among a Sample of Chinese College Students in the United States

Abstract

Objectives: To assess sexual behaviors and condom use including perceived benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy among Chinese college students in the United States. Participants: One hundred thirty-three Chinese undergraduate and graduate students studying at 3 US universities. Methods: Self-report Internet questionnaire grounded in the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) framework analyzed with multivariate linear regression. Results: More than half (57.9%) have initiated sex. Only 27.3% used condoms every time. Frequent reasons for not using condoms were trust in partner, reduced pleasure, and partner dislike for condoms. Participants in the earlier TTM stages (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation) reported more worry about making partners angry if condoms were used and lower self-efficacy in situations involving alcohol or drug use and perceived low-risk scenarios. Conclusions: Interventions should increase condom availability to students and should also make condom use more acceptable, more often expected, and easier to discuss.

Keywords:

• Chinese
• college students
• condom
• perceived barriers
• perceived benefits
• self-efficacy
• sexual behavior
• Transtheoretical Model stages