The additional value of anticipated regret and psychopathology in explaining intended condom use among drug users

Abstract

In this study we examine determinants of intended condom use with casual and steady sex partners among drug users. Our aim was to find out whether anticipated regret and psychopathology represent additional factors in explaining condom use behaviour, on top of the constructs defined in traditional psychosocial models of behaviour. A questionnaire measuring intentions, attitude, beliefs, personal norm, subjective norm, descriptive norm, self-efficacy and anticipated regret toward condom use with steady and casual sex partners, and the Symptom Checklist '90 (to measure dimensions of psychopathology) were handed out to 150 Dutch drug users. The results showed that intended condom use with steady sex partners was mainly predicted by self-efficacy, personal norm and anticipated regret (total R2 = 0.41). Lower feelings of hostility and a more positive personal norm, subjective norm and attitude significantly predicted intended condom use with casual sex partners (total R2 = 0.24). The results also showed that intended condom use with steady sex partners seems to result from anticipating possible barriers, whereas condom use with casual sex partners is largely a matter of having safe sex norms. Practical implications of this study for Aids-preventive campaigns are also discussed.

Sexual Decision-Making in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men: How Moral Concerns and Sexual Motives Guide Intended Condom Use with Steady and Casual Sex Partners

“…Feelings of moral obligation could be addressed by inducing HIV-positive MSM to reflect on their own personal risk and personal standards for safer sex (Kalichman, 1998). The findings of this study further suggest that desirable changes in subjective norms and self-efficacy expectations might lead to corresponding changes in personal norms and intentions (e.g., Deci & Ryan, 2000; van Empelen, Kok, Jansen, & Hoebe, 2001; van Empelen, Schaalma, Kok, & Jansen, 2001). Therefore, preventive interventions should focus on helping HIV-positive MSM to cope with an unsupportive social environment and to encourage them to build the skills and confidence required for communicating and negotiating condom use.…”

Condom use in steady and casual sexual relationships: Planning, preparation and willingness to take risks among adolescents

“…Others who have studied the issue in the context of casual sex have shown similar results among adolescents (Morrison, Baker, & Gillmore, 2000;Yzer, Siero, &Buunk, 2001) anddrug users (Van Empelen, Kok, Jansen, &Hoebe, 2001;Van Empelen, Schaalma, Kok, & Jansen, 2001). Possible explanations may lie in higher order goals of young people.…”

Conceptual overlap between moral norms and anticipated regret in the prediction of intention: Implications for theory of planned behaviour research

“…When multiple correlations between moral norms and anticipated regret were reported in the same study (e.g. van Empelen et al, 2001), the weighted average of the correlations was used as the unit of analysis to avoid violating the assumption of independence that underpins meta-analytic procedures. Where necessary (e.g.…”

“…Gagnon & Godin, 2000;Jackson et al, 2003;Moan, Rise, & Anderson, 2005), while the terms moral norms and personal norms are often used interchangeably (e.g. Kok, Hospers, Harterink, & de Zwart, 2007;McMahon and Byrne, 2008;van Empelen, Kok, Jansen, & Hoebe, 2001). The search terms 'anticipated regret', 'anticipated affect', 'moral norm' and 'personal norm' were therefore used in three electronic bibliographic databases (i.e.…”