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Perceived Pros and Cons of Condom Use as Predictors of its Consistent Use with a Heterosexual Romantic Partner Among Young Adults

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Abstract

The present research examines the pros and cons of condom use as predictors of consistent condom use with a heterosexual romantic partner. Data from 619 undergraduate students (35.1 % males; mean of age = 20.31) were collected using a voluntary and anonymous self-report survey. The pros and cons predicted consistent condom use during the last month among females, whereas only the pros were predictive of consistent condom use in men. Similarly, only the feelings of safety predicted consistent condom use among men. However, the reduction of pleasure for women, the side-effects of other contraceptive methods, the difficulty in asking for condom use when they were also using the pill and the fact that condom use interrupts and cools off foreplay were also predictors among women. Besides the superiority of the pros over the cons, in general, the present research identifies a number of important pros and cons that should be used to encourage condom use.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by University of Girona R+D Singular Actions: “Preventive behaviours in young people”. This work was performed whilst F. Prat was receiving a grant from the University of Girona (BR10/13). We are grateful to the students who participated in the study and to the professors who agreed to recruit the students in the classroom settings.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quality of Life Research Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Girona, Plaça Sant Domènec, 9, Girona, 17071, Catalonia, Spain

    Francesc Prat, Montserrat Planes & Maria Eugenia Gras

  2. Department of Systems Engineering and Human Factors, School of Engineering, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK

    Mark J. M. Sullman

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  1. Francesc Prat
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  2. Montserrat Planes
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  3. Maria Eugenia Gras
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  4. Mark J. M. Sullman
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Correspondence to Francesc Prat.

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Prat, F., Planes, M., Gras, M.E. et al. Perceived Pros and Cons of Condom Use as Predictors of its Consistent Use with a Heterosexual Romantic Partner Among Young Adults. Curr Psychol 35, 13–21 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9357-3

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