Gender and Ethnic Differences in Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Condom Use

• Published in: The Journal of school health Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 103 - 106
• Main Authors: Hodges, Bonni C., Leavyx, Margaret, Swift, Robert, Gold, Robert S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.1992; American School Health Association
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control; Adolescent; AIDS/HIV; Attitude to Health; Birth control; Children & youth; Condoms; Contraception; Contraceptive Devices, Male - statistics & numerical data; Demographic aspects; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Male; Male contraceptives; Minority & ethnic groups; Nursing; Population; Psychology, Adolescent; Public opinion; Sex education; Sexual behavior; Social research; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenage sexual behavior; Teenagers; United States - ethnology; Americas; Multivariate Analysis; Age Factors; Condom; United States; Contraceptive Usage; Infections; Blacks; Research Methodology; North America; Sexually Transmitted Diseases > prevention and control; Knowledge Sources; Ethnic Groups; Education; Population Characteristics; Reproductive Tract Infections; Contraceptive Methods; Population; Research Report; Behavior; Adolescents; Demographic Factors; Communication; Attitude; Cultural Background; Health; Psychological Factors; Youth; Contraception; Whites; Barrier Methods; Family Planning; Diseases; Northern America; Developed Countries; Peer Groups; Health Surveys; School Age Population; Data Analysis; Health Education; Hispanics
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1992.tb06029.x

This secondary analysis from the National Adolescent Student Health Survey (NASHS) examined relationships between adolescents' personal and perceived peer attitudes toward condom use with gender and self‐reported ethnic background. Descriptive results revealed general personal support and perceived peer support for condom use. Results from multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVAs) demonstrated significant interaction effects for the eighth grade sample [F = (4, 2383228) = 3530.01 p = .000], and the 10th grade sample [F = (4, 2636878) = 2594.41073, p = .000]. Contrasts revealed significant differences among all ethnic groups for both belief variables for the entire sample, eighth grade students, and 10th grade students. Though general support exists for condom use among U.S. eighth and 10th grade students, conviction varies among groups perhaps indicating a need for tailored messages about condom use, especially for Hispanic students. Implications for health education include the need for cultural‐sensitive and gender‐sensitive STD education. (J Sch Health. 1992;62(3):103–106)