PREDICTING CONDOM NEGOTIATION EFFICACY IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The present study uses the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to examine predictors of condom negotiation efficacy (CNE) within an ethnically diverse sample (n=381) of economically disadvantaged high school students. Consistent with the TRA, students' attitudes toward condom use as well as perceived peer norms about condom use were positively predictive of CNE. The variance in CNE accounted for by attitudes and peer norms was significant. Findings provide further evidence of the usefulness of the TRA in studies of HIV/AIDS – related behaviors; in addition, findings suggest that the TRA is a useful framework for examining predictors of risky behaviors in economically disadvantaged adolescent populations.