CONDOM USE - A SELF-EFFICACY MODEL

A survey of heterosexually active college students gathered informatio n about condom use, self-efficacy (SE), outcome expectancies, sexual a ttitudes, peer group influences, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (A IDS) knowledge, and perceived vulnerability to AIDS. On the basis of A . Bandura's (1986) social-cognitive theory, a structural model with SE as the central mediator was formulated and evaluated with LISREL. Thi s model explained 46% of the variance in condom use from judgments of SE and effects attributable to peers and 53% of the variance in SE fro m outcome expectancies and peer group influences. Sexual attitudes, AI DS knowledge, and perceived vulnerability did not predict condom use. Most students were well-informed about human immunodeficiency virus (H IV) transmission but reported not feeling at risk, even though many en gaged in risky sexual behavior.