Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Charles Eberly

Thesis Committee Member

Mary Hogg

Thesis Committee Member

James Wallace

Abstract

Risky sexual behavior is prevalent on campuses across the nation. Due to an increase in sexually transmitted infections among individuals 25 and under, unsafe sex puts the college population at great risk. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Condom Club Members demonstrated more knowledge regarding condoms, had been tested more for STIs, used condoms more frequently when engaging in sexual activity than Non-Condom Club Members, and whether Condom Club Members selfreported more, the same, or fewer sexual partners or sexual relations than did NonCondom Club Members at a comprehensive state university in the Midwest.

A posttest-only with nonequivalent groups design used participant samples consisting of 121 Condom Club Members and 324 Non-Condom Club Members (N = 445) who completed a survey specifically designed for the present research. Three research questions were developed, and from these three research questions, thirteen hypotheses were created to examine whether Condom Club Members had more knowledge regarding condoms, had been tested more frequently for STIs, used condoms more when engaging in sexual activity and did not self-report more sexual partners or sexual relations than Non-Condom Club Members. Data were analyzed using Chi Square and cross tabulations using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Both Condom Club and Non-Condom Club Members reported a low incidence of being tested for STIs. The effectiveness of condoms for STI and pregnancy prevention was greater among Condom Club Members than non-Condom Club Members. Condom Club Members also were more knowledgeable about the materials from which condoms were manufactured. In terms of self-reported behavior, Condom Club Members were more likely to have used condoms in their last occurrence of oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse than Non-Condom Club Members, as well as all occurrences within the last thirty days. Condom Club Members were no more likely to have multiple sexual partners than Non-Condom Club research participants, nor were they likely to engage in more sexual activity than Non-Condom Club Members. Condom Club Members utilized condoms more as a means of pregnancy prevention than Non-Condom Club Members, and unlike Non-Condom Club Members, did not find condoms to inhibit sexual pleasure.

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