This study examines whether parental income, age, formal sexual education on the transmission of STDs, current choice to be sexually active, and/or gender contribute to differences in condom usage in a sample of young adults. So that the conducted research may be understood within the context of the existing literature, this section of the report presents a review of the literature on condom usage and demographic characteristics.
What factors contribute to the variance in young people's use of condoms? According to Turner, Garrison, Korpita and Waller (1994), one strong factor is sex-education focusing on the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. In their study, the authors examined the effectiveness of a sexual-health program in changing sexuality-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior among 582 college freshmen (aged 17+ years).
Comparison were made between 295 students in the program and 285 students not in the program. Findings indicated that mean knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores were significantly higher for those enrolled in the freshman seminar than for those not enrolled.
Further, abstinence among males in the program increased. However, it was found that white males in the seminar were more likely to be abstinent or to use a condom than nonwhites. Females participating in the intervention reported increased frequency of condom use at last intercourse and increased contraceptive use overall.
Another factor than can affect frequency of condom usage is gender. For example, Herold and Mewhinney (1993) surveyed 83 men and 86 women (mean age 23 years) at nine dating bars in Ontario, Canada, in order to determine whether there were gender differences in self-reported casual sex and AIDS-prevention behavior.
Findings indicated that more men than women had some experience with casual sex. The women had as many sexual partners as the men, but were less likely to anticipate having casual sex...