Women's self-efficacy and sexually transmitted disease preventive behaviors

Abstract

Knowledge of sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention, perceived risk for STDs, and self-efficacy for STD prevention were investigated as predictors of behavioral risk for STDs in 308 female college students. Perceived risk and self-efficacy predicted 19% of behavioral risk for STD; knowledge was not a predictor. Self-efficacy was highest for communicating about STD prevention and lowest for refusing sexual intercourse. Interventions that enhance both women's self-efficacy to prevent STDs and accurate risk appraisal are likely to be more effective than those that emphasize only knowledge of prevention techniques.

Examining the Decision to Talk with Family About Organ Donation: Applying the Theory of Motivated Information Management

“…Recent investigations into the phenomenon support its importance as an efficacy component. For instance, Hale and Trumbetta (1996) showed that women sought sexual health information from their partner when they had confidence in their ability to do so (see also, Kalichman & Nachimson, 1999;Makoul & Roloff, 1998). Initial tests of TMIM have also shown communication efficacy to play an important role in individuals' informationmanagement decisions (e.g., Afifi, Dillow, et al, 2004;Afifi & Weiner, 2006) Coping efficacy, as conceptualized in the TMIM, ''reflects the extent to which individuals believe that they have the emotional, instrumental, and other resources (e.g., network support) to manage the process-and results-based outcomes they expect from the information-management strategy under consideration'' (Afifi & Weiner, 2004, p. 178).…”

Predictors of Condom Use Self-Efficacy in an Ethnically Diverse University Sample

“…Ethnic differences in condom use behavior have been noted in women (Gomez & Marin, 1996;Hale & Trumbetta, 1996;Soet et al, 1998). Latinas reported significantly less condom use self-efficacy than Caucasian women, although ethnic differences in actual condom use with a steady sexual partner were not substantial.…”

“…In this study, the diverse variables linked with condom use self-efficacy will be explored and statistically compared with each other in an effort to increase clarity about condom use self-efficacy and its impact on promoting responsible sexual behavior. Ransom (1998) reported that condom use self-efficacy accounted for approximately 16% of the variance in STI prevention behavior and 13% of the variance in STI risk behavior in a college sample of women (Hale & Trumbetta, 1996). In another study, contraceptive selfefficacy was moderately positively correlated with and predicted contraceptive use in women (Heinrich, 1993).…”

“…Self-efficacy predicted extent of communication about STI prevention (Hale & Trumbetta, 1996), indicating one method by which self-efficacy may directly impact the negotiation of condom use in a sexual situation. Women typically assume a more proactive role in these negotiations (Carter et al, 1999).…”

Perceived Self-Efficacy in Performing Lifesaving Skills: An Assessment of the American Red Cross's Responding to Emergencies Course

“…The self-efficacy model has been applied in a number of studies assessing health behavior (Desmond & Price, 1988;Hale & Trumbetta, 1996). This model also has been used to examine differences in perceived self-efficacy to perform CPR between parents enrolled in a CPR program and those not enrolled (Schelessel et al, 1995).…”