Examining the Relationship Between Condom Use Self-Efficacy, Sexual Empowerment, and Sexual Health Knowledge Among Latino College Men

Despite recent increases in institutional efforts to improve sexual health safety, few studies have explored Latino college men's sexual risk behaviors. Considering prior research examining links between sexual risk behaviors and factors such as condom use self-efficacy, sexual health knowledge and education, and sexual empowerment, it is critical to examine their influence on Latino college men's sexual health in the context of cultural values and sexual scripts. Quantitative cross-sectional design and linear regression models were utilized to analyze responses from 177 Latino college men attending a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the Southeastern region of the United States (U.S.). Our findings revealed that higher satisfaction with sexual health knowledge and education when obtained from informal sources such as family members and peers significantly increased condom use self-efficacy. Contrastingly, greater levels of sexual empowerment significantly decreased Latino college men's condom use self-efficacy. Findings underline the importance of considering the dynamic interaction of multilevel factors and the sexual decision-making process from a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, and culturally syntonic lens to address sexual risk behaviors among Latino college men students. "Sexual health knowledge and education obtained from informal sources play a significant role in increasing Latino college men student's condom use self-efficacy, in contrast to the effect shown by factors like sexual empowerment. Hence, approaching Latino sexual health from a culturally syntonic lens is essential in preventing sexual risky behaviors at a critical developmental stage."