Preparing for Male Condom Use: The Importance of Volitional Predictors

Objectives: Intention is not sufficient to actually use condoms, as self-regulatory processes are needed to translate motivation into action. This study has focused on the role of preparatory behaviors as a proximal predictor of condom use and examined how they contribute to the self-regulatory processes proposed by the health action process approach model. Methods: An on-screen longitudinal study was conducted with 3 measurement points 2 weeks apart. The participants were young men aged 18 to 25 years old (N D 203) recruited from vocational training centers. Outcome expectancies, perceived self-efficacy, intention, action planning, coping planning, volitional self-efficacy, preparatory behaviors, and condom use were assessed by self-report. A structural equation analysis was used to test a series of 3 nested models, with all parameters estimated by bootstrapping. Results: The model proposed that the included preparatory behaviors provided the best fit to the data. Preparatory behaviors were the most proximal predictors of condom use, and mediation occurred in a sequential manner with preparatory behaviors preceding the volitional variables, action and coping planning, and volitional self-efficacy. Conclusions: To bridge the intention–behavior gap, preparatory behaviors play a mediating role, demonstrating how they work in conjunction with other volitional variables such as planning and self-efficacy in the translation of behavioral intentions into actual condom use.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio