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Ambivalence and Unprotected Sex: Failure to Predict Sexual Activity and Decreased Condom Use 1
Author(s) -
MacDonald Tara K.,
Hynie Michaela
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2008.00340.x
Subject(s) - condom , ambivalence , sexual intercourse , psychology , family planning , sexual behavior , social psychology , developed country , demography , developmental psychology , population , medicine , research methodology , family medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sociology , syphilis
Using a prospective design, we assessed whether ambivalence toward sexual activity is associated with decreased condom use. Undergraduates predicted whether they would have intercourse and use condoms in the next week. A week later, they reported their sexual and contraceptive behavior. Among 65 individuals who had intercourse and planned to use condoms, ambivalence toward sexual activity was negatively associated with condom use. Moreover, whether intercourse was planned mediated the relationship between ambivalence and condom use, such that ambivalence was negatively associated with accuracy in planning sex, and unplanned sex was less likely to be protected. Individuals who are ambivalent about sex may intend to use condoms, but fail to do so because they cannot predict when they will have intercourse.