Discriminant attitudes and beliefs about condoms in young, multi-partner heterosexuals

Four hundred and eight people aged 15-35 years who reported having more than one sexual partner of the opposite sex in the past year or who thought it likely that they would do so in the next year were surveyed about their sexual behaviour, concern about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and sexually transmitted diseases and attitudes to condom use. Differences in concerns and attitudes between regular and non- or irregular condom users and between men and women are reported. Three conceptually coherent factors (condom use as positive action; condom use as cue to embarrasment; and condom use as antithetical to good sex) discriminated between users and non-users. Implications for health promotion campaigns designed to promote condom use are discussed.