APPLICATION OF THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR TO ADOLESCENTS CONDOM USE - A PANEL STUDY

The authors report a longitudinal study of factors determining use of condoms with new sexual partners in a representative sample of 650 Ger man youth. Measures derived from the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen , 1985) were obtained in 2 waves separated by 1 year. Consistent with the theory, intentions to use condoms could be predicted from attitude s, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control with respect to this behavior; and actual condom use was strongly related to intention s and perceptions of control assessed in Wave 2. Due to changes in bel iefs and attitudes over time, only about 10% of the variance in report ed condom use was accounted for by intentions and perceived control as sessed 1 year earlier. Reported condom use was found to exert a direct effect on later intentions, unmediated by their hypothesized antecede nts. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are disc ussed.