Strength of Implementation Intentions to Use Condoms Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

• Main Authors: Nydegger, L.A (Author), Walsh, J.L (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer New York LLC 2018
• Subjects: acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; adolescent; Adolescent; adult; Adult; article; behavior; coitus; Coitus; condom; condom use; Condom use; Condoms; Contraception Behavior; contraceptive behavior; Hispanic; HIV; HIV Infections; Homosexuality, Male; human; human experiment; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; Humans; Implementation intentions; Intention; major clinical study; male; Male; male homosexuality; mediator; men who have sex with men; MSM; nonhuman; pre-exposure prophylaxis; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; PrEP; psychology; safe sex; Safe Sex; Sexual and Gender Minorities; sexual and gender minority; statistics and numerical data; structural model; theoretical study; utilization; young adult; Young Adult
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use is increasing among men who have sex with men (MSM), condoms remain key to HIV prevention. Implementation intentions—which link a behavioral action plan with a situation or cue—may predict condom use. The Strength of Implementation Intentions Scale (SIIS), which assesses condom use implementation intentions, has not been evaluated among MSM. A structural model tested whether the SIIS mediated the relationship between condom use intentions and condomless sex acts among 266 sexually-active MSM (56% White, 26% Black, 15% Latino, Mage = 32.54). After controlling for PrEP use, HIV-status, and demographics (χ2(107) = 140.06, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.03), the SIIS fully mediated the relationship between condom use intentions and condomless sex acts. The SIIS can serve as a fidelity check for interventions, a mediator in theoretical models, and future studies should incorporate implementation intentions into HIV prevention interventions for MSM. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.