Improving predictions of condom behavioral intentions with partner-specific measures of risk perception

Inconsistent Findings regarding the predictive validity of perceptions of risk for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV may be related to the use of nonspecific measures. The objective of this study was to determine whether more specific measures of perceptions of risk for STDs and HIV are associated with intentions to use a condom. We interviewed 490 male and female adolescents, 14 to 19 years old, from a free municipal STD clinic. Controlling for whether a condom was used at last sex, the association between perceptions of risk for an STD and HIV with a casual sex partner and intentions to use a condom with a casual sex partner was significant (beta(HIV) 14, p < .01, and beta(STD) = .20, p < .01), as was the association between perceptions of risk for an STD and HIV with a main sex partner and intentions to use a condom with a main sex partner (beta(HIV) = .31, p < .001, and beta(STD) = .32, p < .001). This supports the continued inclusion of this construct in models of sexual and other health-related behaviors.