Based on previous literature, how people feel about using condoms and the consequences of performing unprotected sexual activities, plus how people define risky sexual behaviors, are associated with their intentions to use condoms in the future. This study hypothesized that self-efficacy, perceived benefits and risks of unprotected sex, and the definitions of risky vaginal and non-vaginal intercourses, were associated with Chinese college students’ intentions to use condoms in the future in their sexual activities with regular and casual partners.
289 Chinese college students (151 males and 138 females) were surveyed. Their sexual status and prior condom usage were also considered. The measurement scales showed satisfactory internal consistency reliabilities, with the coefficients ranging from .67 to .83. Results from correlation analysis showed that students’ intentions to use condoms in the future (1) were positively correlated with self-efficacy, perceived risks of unprotected sex, and definitions of risky vaginal intercourse for sex with regular partners; (2) were positively correlated with self-efficacy, prior condom usage, and definitions of risky vaginal intercourse for sex with casual partners. Results from regression analyses showed that students’ intentions to use condoms in the future (1) were best explained by definitions of risky vaginal intercourse for sex with regular partners; (2) were best explained by self-efficacy, prior condom usage, and definitions of risky vaginal intercourse for sex with casual partners. These findings imply that targeting at how Chinese college students define risky vaginal intercourses and how they feel about their abilities to use condoms might be important in sexual health programs for more effective promotion of safer sex.
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