Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1997

Thesis Director

Keith M. Wilson

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether sex guilt and communication were related to condom use. Past research has examined variables that affect condom use and has found that individuals who communicate more about sexual matters, and individuals who have low sex guilt, have been found to use condoms/contraceptives more consistently. This study examined sex guilt and communication and how they predict condom use. The participants were 80 female undergraduates recruited from psychology classes at Eastern Illinois University. Mosher's revised Sex Guilt Inventory and Catania's Health Protective Communication Scale were administered along with a question that assessed condom use. An interview was conducted to find explanation for the results. Bivariate correlational analyses revealed no relationships between sex guilt, communication, and condom use. A step-wise multiple regression revealed that sex guilt and communication did not predict condom use. Twelve females who completed the questionnaire volunteered to participate in the interview session. Of the twelve interviewees, seven did not use condoms because they used another type of birth control (none of which protected against HIV), nine were in a serious, long-term relationship, and only three used condoms as disease prevention. The interviews suggest that it might be useful to look at the length of the relationship between partners and how it is related to sex guilt, communication and condom use. Condom use is a complicated behavior and reasonable assumptions do not seem to explain this complex interpersonal behavior. Further research should be directed towards sorting these variables out so that condom promotion programs can increase the use of condoms and decrease the number of new HIV and STD cases.

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