Health belief and self-efficacy models: their utility in explaining college student condom use

This investigation tested the ability of the Health Belief Model (HBM), dimensions of self-efficacy, various behavioral variables (i.e., number of sex partners in the past 12 months, frequency of drunkenness during sexual intercourse, and number of diagnosed sexually transmitted diseases), and demographic measures to distinguish between three condom user groups (i.e., nonusers, sporadic users, and consistent users). The usable sample consisted of 366 college students, ages 18 to 24. The study operationalized the following HBM components: perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. The multidimensional Condom Use Self-Efficacy Scale (CUSES) was also used in this investigation. Results from a discriminant analysis indicated that sporadic users were best distinguished from both consistent and nonusers by number of sex partners in the past year, frequency of drunkenness during sexual intercourse, perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and other STDs, and a self-efficacy factor labeled Assertive. The sporadic users had significantly more sex partners, were drunk more often when engaging in sexual intercourse, perceived themselves as more susceptible to HIV/AIDS and other STDs, and were less confident in their ability to discuss and insist on condom use with a partner. It was also discovered that each condom user group was best defined by different subsets of discriminating variables. Implications of these findings for campus-based prevention programs and future research are discussed.