PREDICTING CONDOM USE IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN STD PATIENTS - THE ROLE OF 2 TYPES OF OUTCOME EXPECTANCIES

This study examined the association of two types of condom use outcome expectancies (self-approval and partner reaction) with patterns of sa fer sexual behavior among predominantly African American patients at a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic. As expected, both individ uals' own self-approval outcome expectancies and their partner reactio n outcome expectancies predicted consistency of condom use, although p artner reaction expectancies predicted condom use above and beyond the effects of self-approval expectancies. Furthermore, individuals who b elieved that they and their partner shared positive condom use outcome expectancies reported the greatest use of condoms. These findings sug gest that HIV prevention programs should address both types of condom use outcome expectancies in order to maximize behavior change.