Longitudinal pathways to condom use: a psychosocial study of male IDUs

This longitudinal study examined the psychosocial risk and protective factors involved in condom use among 265 male IDUs. Subjects were individually interviewed at two points in time using a structured questionnaire, which included psychosocial measures and questions about drug use and condom use. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression analyses. T1 condom use was the most powerful predictor of T2 condom use, with or without control on other variables. T1 family support for condom use, friends' support for condom use, adaptive coping with AIDS or the threat of AIDS, and planning to use condoms were significantly related to T2 condom use. Protective father factors enhanced the effects of other protective psychosocial factors, increasing T2 condom use. The results suggest several approaches for changing risk-taking sexual behavior in male IDUs: enhancing coping abilities, selecting peers who take fewer risks, and planning to use condoms.