Risk assessment heuristics: Cues and intention to use a condom in casual sex. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rinaldi-Miles, Anna; Quick, Brian L; McCloskey, Laura
• Is Part Of: Health education journal. Volume 76:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 325
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Casual sex -- college students -- condom use -- heuristic cues -- USA; Health education -- Periodicals; 613.071
• DOI: 10.1177/0017896916672899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-8969

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationship between three heuristic cues (consistency, liking and social proof) and condom use in casual sex relationships utilising the theory of planned behaviour. Participants: Totally, 388 US college students were surveyed. Method: Three vignettes for each cue primed students to project their willingness to use a condom during casual sex encounters. Results: Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed that the cues exerted significant main effects on attitude ( F (5, 1, 935) = 6.16, p < .001), subjective norms ( F (5, 1, 930) = 5.626, p < .001), perceived behavioural control ( F (5, 1, 935) = 8.51, p < .001) and behavioural intentions ( F (5, 1, 930) = 2.44, p = .033). Post hoc analysis revealed condom avoidance behavioural intentions were more likely for the vignette depicting social proof ( M = −1.26, standard deviation [ SD ] = 1.08). Conclusion: Findings indicate that heuristic cues influence college students' condom use intentions, and prevention programmes should incorporate cues to increase effectiveness.