Condom use among US students: The importance of confidence in normative and attitudinal perceptions

The author performed a study among U.S. undergraduates to test an earlier c onclusion (D. Trafimow, 1994) that confidence in the correctness of one's p erceptions of normative pressure to use a condom influences the corresponde nce between those perceptions and the intentions actually to perform the be havior. Consistent with previous findings (Trafimow), the participants' per ceptions of normative pressure strongly predicted their intentions to use c ondoms only under conditions of extreme normative confidence. Otherwise, th eir attitudes were better predictors of their intentions to use condoms. In addition, 2 other variables (attitudinal confidence and perceived behavior al control) were found to be unimportant predictors of intentions. Results of a 2nd study suggest that behaviors performed by sexual partners and know ing the sexual partners affected the participants' normative confidence.