Mota, Cox, Katz, and Sareen (2009) reported that, in a representative sample of Americans, risk of mental disorders and suicidal tendencies was associated with lack of condom use (in the never married) and earlier first intercourse. Risk of mental disorders was also associated with having more than one intercourse partner. Childhood deprivation, impulsivity, and genetic propensity for addiction were among the proposed explanatory mechanisms.

A wide range of studies, however, have found that greater frequency of penile–vaginal intercourse (PVI), as distinct from other sexual behaviors, is associated with measures of better health (Brody, 2003, 2006; Brody & Preut, 2003) and that condoms might detract from some of the benefits (Costa & Brody, 2008). Studies of the general adult population in several countries indicated that condom use for PVI, like abstinence from PVI, is associated with depression and suicidal tendencies (Gallup, Burch, & Platek, 2002; Morrill, Ickovics, Golubchikov, Ber ...