Research

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to conduct a meta-analysis that identifies the strongest psychosocial predictors of adolescent condom use. Results can be used to inform future sexual health promotion efforts for youth and refine health behavior theory.

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OVERVIEW

Adolescents are highly vulnerable to STDs, including HIV.

Condoms remain the most accessible and cost-effective HIV and STD prevention tool for sexually active adolescents. Further, condoms are the only prevention method that can both reduce the transmission of HIV/STDs and prevent unintended pregnancy.

Unfortunately, only 54% of sexually active U.S. adolescents used a condom at last intercourse. It is critical that we understand the factors that most strongly predict condom use so that they may be targeted in future efforts to increase condom use among adolescents.

The purpose of this project is to meta-analyze the literature on adolescent sexual health to identify the strongest psychosocial predictors of condom use among youth. We will examine the relationship between condom use and approximately 30 psychosocial variables (e.g., HIV/STD knowledge, sex education, partner attitudes, self-efficacy, sexual communication, impulsivity, IPV). Then, we will examine several potential moderators of the relationship between the identified psychosocial variables and condom use (e.g., age, gender, research design). Results of this meta-analysis can be used to identify the most effective targets for HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention efforts and refine health behavior theory among youth.

TEAM MEMBERS

Reina Evans-Paulson

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