Skip to main content
Log in

Comparison of Men's and Women's Attempts to Dissuade Sexual Partners From the Couple Using Condoms

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Undergraduate students were asked about their use of condoms and their attempts to dissuade sexual partners from the couple using condoms during sexual intercourse. Nearly 14% of women and nearly 17% of men who had engaged in sexual intercourse admitted to having actively tried to dissuade a partner from the couple using condoms. Thirty percent of the men and 41% of the women said that a sexual partner had tried to dissuade them. Attempts to dissuade partners from the couple using condoms were most common among students who reported having 10 or more lifetime sexual partners. For both men and women, the most frequently employed categories of verbal strategies were (1) sex feels better without a condom, (2) will not get pregnant, and (3) will not get a sexually transmitted disease. These three categories accounted for about three-fourths of the lines used. Avoidance of condoms because of a perceived decrease in physical pleasure poses a particular problem for sex and health educators.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Afifi, W. A. (1999). Harming the ones we love: Relational attachment and perceived consequences as predictors of safe-sex behavior. J. Sex Res. 36: 198-206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bankole, A., Darroch, J. E., and Singh, S. (1999). Determinants of trends in condom use in the United States, 1988-1995. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 31: 264-271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, J., and Minichiello, V. (1996). Condoms: Dilemmas of caring and autonomy in heterosexual safe sex practices. Venereology 9: 24-33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buysse, A., and Van Oost, P. (1997). Appropriate male and female safer sexual behavior in heterosexual relationships. AIDS Care 9: 549-561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, J. A., McNair, L. D., Corbin, W. R., and Williams, M. (1999). Gender differences related to heterosexual condom use: The influence of negotiation styles. J. Sex Marital Ther. 25: 217-225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catania, J. A., Binson, D., Docini, M. M., Stall, R., Choi, K. H., Pollack, L. M., Hudes, E. S., Canchola, J., Phillips, K., and Moskowitz, J. T. (1995). Risk factors for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and prevention practices among US heterosexual adults: Changes from 1990 to 1992. Am. J. Public Health 85: 1492-1499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catania, J. A., Dolcini, M. M., Coates, T. J., Kegeles, S. M., Greenbaum, R. M., Puckett, S., Corman, M., and Miller, J. (1989). Predictors of condom use and multiple partnered sex among sexually active adolescent women: Implications for AIDS-related health interventions. J. Sex Res. 26: 514-524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1992). Selected behaviors that increase risk for HIV infection among high school students-United States, 1990. MMWR 41: 236-240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1998). Trends in sexual risk behavior among high school students-United States, 1991-1997. MMWR 47: 749-752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, K.-H., Rickman, R., and Catania, J. A. (1994). What heterosexual adults believe about condoms. New Engl. J. Med. 331: 406, 407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clement, U. (1990). Surveys of heterosexual behavior. Annu. Rev. Sex Res. 1: 45-74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., Agocha, V. B., and Powers, A. M. (1999). Motivations for condom use: Do pregnancy prevention goals undermine disease prevention among heterosexual young adults? Health Psychol. 18: 1-11.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiClemente, R. J., Forrest, K. A., and Mickler, S. (1990). College students' knowledge and attitudes about AIDS and changes in HIV-preventive behaviors. AIDS Educ. Prev. 2: 201-212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J. D., and Fisher, W. A. (1992). Changing AIDS-risk behavior. Psychol. Bull. 11: 455-474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzini, L. R., and Sideman, L. M. (1994). Personality characteristics of condom users. J. Sex Educ. Ther. 20: 110-118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gladwell, M. (1992, May 16). “Safe-sex” campaign said to be missing the mark. The Washington Post, pp. A1, A11.

  • Gray, L. A., and Saracino, M. (1989). AIDS on campus: A preliminary study of college students' knowledge and behaviors. J. Couns. Dev. 68: 199-202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillier, L., Harrison, L., and Warr, D. (1998). “When you carry condoms all the boys think you want it”: Negotiating competing discourses about safe sex. J. Adolesc. 21: 15-29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ku, L. C., Sonenstein, F. L., and Pleck, J. H. (1992). The association of AIDS education and sex education with sexual behavior and condom use among teenage men. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 24: 100-106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ku, L. C., Sonenstein, F. L., and Pleck, J. H. (1994). The dynamics of young men's condom use during and across relationships. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 24: 100-106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lear, D. (1995). Sexual communication in the age of AIDS: The construction of risk and trust among young adults. Soc. Sci. Med. 41: 1311-1323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Libbus, K. (1995). Women's beliefs concerning condom acquisition and use. Public Health Nurs. 12: 341-347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meston, C. M., Heiman, J. R., Trapnell, P. D., and Paulhus, D. L. (1998). Socially desirable responding and sexuality self-reports. J. Sex Res. 35: 148-157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metts, S., and Fitzpatrick, M. A. (1992). Thinking about safer sex: The risky business of “know your partner” advice. In Edgar, T., Fitzpatrick, M. A., and Freimuth, V. S. (eds.), AIDS: A Communication Perspective, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. J., and Boggess, S. (1998). Increased condom use among teenage males, 1988-1995: The role of attitudes. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 30: 276-280, 303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piccinino, L. J., and Mosher, W. D. (1998). Trends in contraceptive use in the United States: 1982-1995. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 30: 4-10, 46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polit-O'Hara, D., and Kahn, J. (1985). Communication and contraceptive practices in adolescent couples. Adolescence 20: 33-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Health Service. (1991). Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. DHHS publication PHS 91-50212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonenstein, F. L., Ku, L., Lindberg, L. D., Turner, C. F., and Pleck, J. H. (1998). Changes in sexual behavior and condom use among teenaged males: 1988 to 1995. Am. J. Public Health 88: 956-959.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, D. J., Miller, K. S., May, D. C., and Levin, M. L. (1999). Teenage partners' communication about sexual risk and condom use: The importance of parent-teenager discussions. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 31: 117-121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wight, D. (1992). Impediments to safer heterosexual sex: A review of research with young people. AIDS Care 4: 11-23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingood, G. M., and DiClemente, R. J. (1998). Gender-related correlates and predictors of consistent condom use among young adult African-American women: A prospective analysis. Int. J. STD AIDS 9: 139-145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yesmont, G. A. (1992). The relationship of assertiveness to college students' safer sex behaviors. Adolescence 27: 253-272.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oncale, R.M., King, B.M. Comparison of Men's and Women's Attempts to Dissuade Sexual Partners From the Couple Using Condoms. Arch Sex Behav 30, 379–391 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010209331697

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010209331697

Navigation