Abstract
This study compares condom use reported two ways. 251 heterosexual participants (63% female) reported condom use on a prospective daily diary and on a retrospective questionnaire. Proportion of condom use with vaginal sex was calculated from the diary data and contrasted with retrospective categories. Responses were consistent for some participants, especially those who used condoms never or always, but responses from others showed considerable variability. Participants with few sexual encounters were more likely than those with more encounters to use “never” and “every time” endpoints. The results call into question the way participants interpret the meaning of retrospective categories.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
There were equal numbers of participants in the three recall conditions. Fewer participants in the one week condition appear in this analysis because many had not had sex in the one week previous to completing the retrospective questionnaire.
References
Armstrong, B. K., White, E., & Saracci, R. (1992). Principles of exposure measurement in epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Catania, J. A., Gibson, D. R., Chitwood, D. D., & Coates, T. J. (1990). Methodological problems in AIDS behavioral research: Influences on measurement error and participation bias in studies of sexual behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 339–362.
Cecil, H., & Zimet, G. D. (1998). Meaning assigned by undergraduates to frequency statements of condom use. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 27(5), 493–505.
Gillmore, M. R. et al. (2001). Daily data collection of sexual and other health-related behaviors. Journal of Sex Research, 38(1), 35–42.
Gillmore, M. R. et al. (2002). Does “high = high risk”? An event-based analysis of the relationship between substance use and unprotected anal sex among gay and bisexual men. AIDS and Behavior, 6(4), 361–370.
Giovanucci, E. et al. (1991). The assessment of alcohol consumption by a simple self-administered questionnaire. American Journal of Epidemiology, 133, 810–817.
Graham, C. A., Catania, J., Brand, R., Duong, T., & Canchola, J. (2003). Recalling sexual behavior: A methodological analysis of memory recall bias via interview using the diary as the gold standard. Journal of Sex Research, 40(4), 325–332.
Jaccard, J., Wan, C. K., Dittus, P., & Quinlan, S. (2002). The accuracy of self-reports of condom use and sexual behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(9), 1863–1905.
Morrison, D. M. et al. (2003). Adolescent drinking and sex: Findings from a daily diary study. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 35(4), 162–168.
Pietinen, P. et al. (1988). Reproducibility and validity of dietary assessment instruments. I. A self-administered food use questionnaire with a portion size picture booklet. American Journal of Epidemiology, 128, 655–666.
Schroder, K. E. E., Carey, M. P., & Vanable, P. A. (2003). Methodological challenges in research on sexual risk behavior: II. Accuracy of self-reports. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 26(2), 104–123.
Schwarz, N. (1990). Assessing frequency reports of mundane behaviors: Contributions of cognitive psychology to questionnaire construction. In C. Hendrick & M. S. Clark (Eds.), Research methods in personality and social psychology (pp. 98–119). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Sheeran, P., & Abraham, C. (1994). Measurement of condom use in 72 studies of HIV-preventive behaviour: A critical review. Patient Education and Counseling, 24, 199–216.
Stone, A. A. et al. (2003). Intensive momentary reporting of pain with an electronic diary: reactivity, compliance, and patient satisfaction. Pain, 104(1–2), 343–351.
Thomas, D. L., & Diener, E. (1990). Memory accuracy in the recall of emotions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 291–297.
Weir, S. S., Roddy, R. E., Zekeng, L., & Ryan, K. A. (1999). Association between condom use and HIV infection: A randomised study of self reported condom use measures. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 53(7), 417–422.
Zenilman, J. M. et al. (1995). Condom use to prevent incident STDs: The validity of self-reported condom use. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 22(1), 15–21.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by AA013688, AA000183 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hoppe, M.J., Morrison, D.M., Gillmore, M.R. et al. Agreement of Daily Diary and Retrospective Measures of Condom Use. AIDS Behav 12, 113–117 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9240-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-007-9240-9