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Predictors of Intention to Practice Safer Sex Among Korean College Students

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Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) among Korean college students on intentions of condom use. A cross-sectional, correlational design was conducted with an exploratory survey method. Young men and women aged 18–25 were recruited from a university in Seoul, Korea using a flyer and self-referral. Students completed a background and sexual behavior questionnaire, a parent–adolescent communication scale, and instruments derived from the TpB. Age, parent–adolescent communication, and perceived risk of sexual behavior were added to the model as potential determinants of intention of condom use. All the TpB components significantly predicted intention of condom use for young men, but only condom attitude and condom efficacy significantly predicted intention of condom use for young women. Age and quality of parent–adolescent communication indirectly affected the intention of condom use; however, perceived risk of sexual behavior did not predict intention of condom use, nor was it affected by age. Older students had a higher condom efficacy and a higher perceived peer norm of condom use. The quality of parent–adolescent communication significantly predicted a higher condom efficacy for young men, but not women.

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Acknowledgments

This study is a part of the first author’s dissertation. The study was supported by Rose E. Constantino Scholarship, the School of Nursing the University of Pittsburgh. The authors express heartfelt gratitude to all dissertation committee and Dr. Judith A. Erlen for their support. The authors thank Dr. Kyeongra Yang and Ms. Alison M. Colbert for their reviews and valuable critique of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, #506, The School of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok-dong Dongjakgu, Seoul, 156-756, South Korea

    Eun-Seok Cha

  2. Department of Psychology in Education, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Kevin H. Kim

  3. Departmert of Health Promotion & Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Thelma E. Patrick

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  1. Eun-Seok Cha
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  2. Kevin H. Kim
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  3. Thelma E. Patrick
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Correspondence to Eun-Seok Cha.

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Cha, ES., Kim, K.H. & Patrick, T.E. Predictors of Intention to Practice Safer Sex Among Korean College Students. Arch Sex Behav 37, 641–651 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9187-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9187-y

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