Safer sex: Social and psychological predictors of behavioral maintenance and change among heterosexual women.

Abstract

Women of diverse backgrounds from 4 community health clinics in southern Connecticut were involved in a longitudinal, prospective study (n = 189). Data from interviews 3 months apart were used for the current analyses. The purpose of this study was to develop predictive models of safer sexual behavior among heterosexual women. Specifically, there was an interest in identifying factors to predict the maintenance or initiation of safer behavior over time. Relationship involvement and attitudes toward condoms were important in both models. Beyond this, differences in explanatory models emerged, reflecting the importance of examining behavior maintenance and change independently. Depression, health locus of control, and outcome efficacy belief made significant contributions to understanding the maintenance of safer sexual behavior. HIV counseling and testing, partner risk, and optimism helped to explain the initiation of safer sexual behavior. Implications for future interventions are discussed.

Childhood Healthcare Experience, Healthcare Attitudes, and Optimism as Predictors of Adolescents’ Healthcare Behavior

“…Thus, optimism might serve as a buffer for individuals with prior negative childhood healthcare experiences. Consistent with other work (Morrill et al, 1996;Taylor, Kemeny, Aspinwall, Schneider, & Rodriguez, 1992), an optimistic style might influence healthcare behavior and/or impressions of healthcare behavior. In the current study optimism was positively associated with childhood healthcare experiences; this relation has not been previously investigated in the literature.…”

“…For example, negative healthcare attitudes increased the likelihood of engaging in negative healthcare behaviors (i.e., avoidance of medical visits, fear of medical procedures; Bachanas & Roberts, 1995;Pate et al, 1996;Peterson et al, 2002). Similarly, positive attitudes toward condoms have been associated with better adherence to condom use (Morrill, Ickovics, Golubchikov, & Beren, 1996). However, there is a lack of research on the relationships between healthcare attitudes and other specific positive healthcare behaviors (e.g., diet, exercise).…”

“…Optimism has been found to predict many mental and physical health outcomes (e.g., positive mood, good health, effective problem solving, and long life; Peterson, 2000). Research has also found that optimists engage in more health promoting behaviors (Morrill et al, 1996;Scheier & Carver, 1992;Segerstrom, Taylor, Kemeny, & Fahey, 1998), as compared to pessimistic individuals.…”

“…Optimism has also been linked to healthcare behaviors such as condom use (Morrill et al, 1996) and maintenance of a balanced diet and regular exercise (Morrill et al, 1996;Scheier & Carver, 1992;Segerstrom et al, 1998). Although much is known about optimism and health status, there is still a need to examine possible relations between optimism and other healthcare behaviors (e.g., personal hygiene, tobacco use, attendance at annual physician well checkups).…”

Immature psychological defense mechanisms and the misrepresentations of some sex researchers

“…In fact, there is evidence that condom use is more common among persons involved in relationships with decreased intimacy and feeling less love for their partners (Aalsma, Fortenberry, Sayegh, & Orr, 2006;Civic, 1999). Moreover, condom use or reduced frequency of PVI without condoms have been associated with more use of immature defense mechanisms , depression (Gallup, Burch, & Platek, 2002;Morrill, Ickovics, Golubchikov, Beren, & Rodin, 1996;Smit et al, 2006), poorer immune function (Peters et al, 2004) and higher body mass index (Akers et al, 2009). A series of studies have shown a relationship of history of condom use or coitus interruptus with greater risk of breast cancer (Gjorgov, 1978(Gjorgov, , 1998Le et al, 1989;Vessey et al, 1983).…”