Condom Use Among Young Women: Modeling the Theory of Gender and Power

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lara DePadilla, Emory University; Michael Windle, Emory University; Gina Wingood, Emory University; Hannah Cooper, Emory University; Ralph Diclemente, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-05-01
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2011 American Psychological Association.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0022871
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Health Psychology
• ISSN: 0278-6133
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 310
• End Page: 319
• Grant/Funding Information: The project described was supported by Grant Number F31MH082635 and 5 R01 MH070537 from the National Institute Of Mental Health.
• Keywords: African American; adolescent; SELF-ESTEEM; PARENT-ADOLESCENT COMMUNICATION; SEM; RISKY SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR; condoms; Psychology, Clinical; FIT INDEXES; GIRLS; FEMALES; HIV PREVENTION INTERVENTION; SAFER SEX; Psychology; AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN; HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS; Social Sciences
• Research Categories: Psychology, Social; Psychology, Clinical; Sociology, Public and Social Welfare

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to articulate pathways between constructs from the theory of gender and power and their associations with sexual behavior. Design: The data were collected preintervention during a randomized controlled HIV prevention trial. Participants were 701 sexually active, unmarried African American females, aged 14-20, who were not pregnant, and were recruited from three health clinics in a southeastern US city. Structural equation modeling was used for the analyses. Main Outcome Measure: Self-reported condom use. Results: Theoretical associations yielded a well-fitting structural model across initial and cross-validation samples. A significant amount of variance was explained for the variables of condom use (R2 = .31, .18), partner communication (R2 = .30, .26), substance use during sex (R2 = .32, .51), and negative personal affect (R2 = .36, .48). Partner communication (.35, .38) was the strongest predictor of condom use, negative personal affect (-41, -37) was the strongest predictor of partner communication, and physical risk (.54, .54) was the strongest predictor of negative personal affect. Conclusion: This model provides evidence to support both direct and indirect associations between social and behavioral risk factors and condom use. Associations between theory of gender and power constructs and condom use can facilitate future development and analyses of interventions based on this theory.