Date of Award

2012-01-01

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Theodore V. Cooper

Abstract

Hispanics are disproportionately contracting sexually transmitted infections relative to other ethnic groups. This study assessed the relationships between condom usage, acculturation, and cultural values (i.e., familismo, religiosity, machismo, and marianismo) in a Hispanic college student sample. Participants (N = 456) were recruited through Sona Systems, flyers, and in highly frequented areas on campus. After informed consent was obtained, participants completed measures of Hispanic cultural values, past condom use, and future intentions to use condoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed; dependent variables included condom use (lifetime) and future intentions to use condoms, while independent variables include sex/gender and relationship status (step 1), cultural variables (step 2), and sex/gender by cultural variable interactions (step 3). Results indicated that lifetime condom use was reported to be inconsistent. Participants who were male and in a relationship reported lower levels of condom use. Females with higher levels of marianismo reported greater condom use, while males with higher levels of marianismo reported lower levels of condom use. Implications include the need for prevention and intervention efforts, the targeting of couples and men (particularly those with higher levels of marianismo). Future research efforts may wish to include other cultural and psychosocial constructs, while future clinical efforts should assess the efficacy of assertiveness and sexual communication training in increasing condom use and reducing sexual risk.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

69 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Cecilia Brooke Cholka

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