Sexual assertiveness in heterosexually active men: a test of three samples

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Condom use is crucial for preventing sexually transmitted infections.
• Men's assertiveness in negotiating condom use is vital for safer sex practices.
• Previous research has focused less on men's sexual assertiveness (SA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine condom-specific sexual assertiveness (SA) in heterosexually active men.
• To develop and validate a brief measure of SA for men.
• To explore the relationship between SA and safer sex behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Developed a four-item SA measure from a prior instrument used with women.
• Administered the SA measure to three independent samples of men.
• Analyzed the association between SA, stages of change for condom use, and unprotected sex.

Main Results:

• A reliable and brief four-item measure of SA was successfully developed.
• Higher SA scores correlated with greater progression in condom use stages of change.
• Increased SA was significantly associated with reduced engagement in unprotected sex.

Conclusions:

• Condom-specific sexual assertiveness (SA) is a significant factor for men's safer sex behaviors.
• Developing men's SA may lead to increased condom use.
• Interventions aimed at enhancing male SA could improve public health outcomes.