Predictors of Condomless Sex and Sexual Health Behaviors in a Sample of Portuguese Single Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Several theoretical models and intervention programs overlook the importance of individual motivations for the decision to have condomless sex. For instance, people focused on promotion (i.e., eager to pursue pleasure) report less intentions to use condoms, because they perceive a lower risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Aim: We aimed at understanding to what extent individual motivations are predictive of condomless sex behavior among single individuals. Methods: A sample of 415 Portuguese individuals (254 women) with ages ranging from 18 to 46 years (M = 23.30, SD = 5.28) were recruited to a cross-sectional study. All participants were neither dating nor in a romantic relationship at the time of the study. The link to an anonymous web survey was shared in social networking platforms. Main Outcome Measures: The survey included self-reported demographic variables (e.g., age, gender), recent condomless sex behavior, and previously validated measures assessing regulatory focus in sexuality, ability in sexual restraint, perceived control over condom use, perceived security with sex partners, and salience of the condom use norm. Results: More than two-thirds of the sample had recently engaged in condomless sex. A logistic regression showed that condomless sex was more likely for participants predominantly focused on promotion in sexuality. It was also more likely among less educated participants, those with a lower ability to restrain their sexual behavior, those who perceive to have less control over condom use, those for whom the condom use norm was less salient, and those who perceived to be safer with their sex partners. No other results were significant. Clinical Implications: Our results can be informative to sexual health care professionals when planning strategies to increase condom use awareness, by specifically considering the role of specific individual motivations. PREDICTORS OF CONDOMLESS SEX 2 Strengths & Limitations: This is the first study showing that individual motivations uniquely contribute to the decision to have condomless sex. This study has two main limitations that constraint the generalizability of the findings: (a) cross-sectional data prevents us from establishing causality, and (b) individual data does not account for dyadic processes in sexuality (e.g., condom use negotiation). Conclusion: Our findings showed that condomless sex results from an individual focus on seeking pleasure, a lack of control in sexual behavior, and a perception of sex partners as more trustworthy. Overall, these findings are likely to help researchers and health care professionals improving theoretical models predicting condom use and preventing the spread of STIs.

Regulatory Focus and Perceived Safety with Casual Partners: Implications for Perceived Risk and Casual Sex Intentions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In contrast, promotion focused people were more willing to have intercourse and oral sex with casual sex partners (H3), and more likely to consider having condomless oral sex (but not condomless intercourse) in the future (H4). Some of these findings resonate with past evidence, showing that individual motivations-particularly those associated with security and pleasure-regulate sexual behavior (Rodrigues, Balzarini, et al, 2020;Rodrigues et al, 2019;Rodrigues, Lopes, et al, 2020). We extend these findings by highlighting two important aspects of sexual behavior.…”

“…This allowed us to increase the ecological validity and generalizability of our findings. Moreover, this study extended recent evidence (Rodrigues, Balzarini, et al, 2020;Rodrigues, Lopes, et al, 2020), by showing the importance of individual motivations and interpersonal dynamics on how people perceive health risks, pursue sex with casual partners, and engage in sexual health behaviors. Not only are these variables often overlooked from theoretical models predicting…”

“…Hence, perceived safety can foster different perceptions about condomless sex and sexual health. Aligned with this, Rodrigues, Lopes et al (2020) found that prevention (vs. promotion) focused people perceived to be less safe with their sex partners. Interestingly, this was only observed among those who used condoms.…”

“…Hence, they are more likely to engage in health protective behaviors, including adhering to medical care prescriptions (Avraham et al, 2016), or maintain smoking cessation and weight loss over time (Fuglestad et al, 2008(Fuglestad et al, , 2013. This is also extended to sexual behaviors and sexual health, such that prevention (vs. promotion) focused people have stronger intentions to use condoms with casual partners in the near future (Rodrigues et al, 2019), and report having used condoms more consistently with casual partners in the last three months (Rodrigues, Lopes, et al, 2020).…”

Individual Motives for Security Influence Sexual Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…These people are motivated by risk taking and the belief that they can control their outcomes (Guo & Spina, 2015;Langens, 2007). Congruent with their motivations, people with a prevention (vs. promotion) focus take less risks with their health and safety (Zou & Scholer, 2016) and are more likely to engage in different health protective behaviors, such as wearing a helmet (Aryee & Hsiung, 2016), adhering to preventive behaviors during the pandemic (Rodrigues, Lopes, & Balzarini, 2020), adhering to medical care prescription/advice (Avraham et al, 2016), adhering to vaccination (Leder et al, 2015), engaging in screening(s) for cancer (Ferrer et al, 2017), or using condoms with casual sex partners (Rodrigues, Lopes, Pereira, et al, 2020). Importantly, the risk-regulating effects of having a prevention focus on health behaviors tends to endure over time.…”