Sex, condoms and sexually transmissible infections: A qualitative study of sexual health in young Australian men

Smith, JL; Fenwick, J; Skinner, R; Hallet, J; Merriman, G; Marshall, L

Sex, condoms and sexually transmissible infections: A qualitative study of sexual health in young Australian men

Smith, JL Fenwick, J Skinner, R Hallet, J Merriman, G Marshall, L

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2012, 41 (2), pp. 487 - 495
Issue Date:: 2012-04-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	2011005354OK.pdf		216.34 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Smith, JL	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fenwick, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Skinner, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hallet, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Merriman, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Marshall, L	en_US
dc.date.available	2010-07-10	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-04-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2012, 41 (2), pp. 487 - 495	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0004-0002	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/22436
dc.description.abstract	Young males have a key role in shaping contraceptive use in a sexual relationship, yet often remain the invisible partner in safe sex promotion. This article describes a conceptual model of STI risk and condom use based on the perceptions and experiences of condom use in a group of young Australian males. An explorative descriptive design was used to conceptualize participants' condom use histories into an organized description of behavior. Forty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of males aged 15 to 25 years over an 18 month period. A sequential analytical process of data immersion, coding, and category generation was used to identify personal meanings, motivations, and contextual factors associated with condom use and non-use. Three primary discourses associated with young males' perceptions of STI risk and responding approach to condom use constructed personal commitment to sexual safety as dynamic, context-dependent, and outcome-driven (pregnancy versus STIs as the primary motivator of condom use). A regretful discourse associated with experiences of, or suspected unwanted outcomes, also emerged through changes in risk appraisals and safe sex intentions and behavior. Interventions to increase condom use should go beyond the traditional focus on risky behavior and disease prevention frameworks by addressing the contextual influences on personal risk appraisals and deliver innovative messages to reduce negative social meanings associated with condom use. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Archives of Sexual Behavior	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s10508-010-9664-6	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Clinical Psychology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sexually Transmitted Diseases	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Condoms	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Harm Reduction	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Contraception Behavior	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk-Taking	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Behavior	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Safe Sex	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Partners	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Interviews as Topic	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.title	Sex, condoms and sexually transmissible infections: A qualitative study of sexual health in young Australian men	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	41	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1699 Other Studies in Human Society	en_US
utslib.for	1701 Psychology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	41	en_US

Abstract:

Young males have a key role in shaping contraceptive use in a sexual relationship, yet often remain the invisible partner in safe sex promotion. This article describes a conceptual model of STI risk and condom use based on the perceptions and experiences of condom use in a group of young Australian males. An explorative descriptive design was used to conceptualize participants' condom use histories into an organized description of behavior. Forty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of males aged 15 to 25 years over an 18 month period. A sequential analytical process of data immersion, coding, and category generation was used to identify personal meanings, motivations, and contextual factors associated with condom use and non-use. Three primary discourses associated with young males' perceptions of STI risk and responding approach to condom use constructed personal commitment to sexual safety as dynamic, context-dependent, and outcome-driven (pregnancy versus STIs as the primary motivator of condom use). A regretful discourse associated with experiences of, or suspected unwanted outcomes, also emerged through changes in risk appraisals and safe sex intentions and behavior. Interventions to increase condom use should go beyond the traditional focus on risky behavior and disease prevention frameworks by addressing the contextual influences on personal risk appraisals and deliver innovative messages to reduce negative social meanings associated with condom use. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/22436