Importance of measuring attitude toward condoms as objects for predicting condom use intention and implications for interventions

Background: Sexually transmitted infections and the human immunodeficiency virus incidence rates remain high among college-aged individuals. The Theory of Planned Behavior indicates that behavioral intentions can be predicted from attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control related to the target behavior. The current study examined if attitude toward condoms as objects were able to predict condom use intentions as well as subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and attitude toward condom use. Methods: Data were collected from 463 undergraduate students from a large Southern university during November 2009 via online surveys. Recruitment methods included in-class fliers and email messages. Results: Discriminant function analysis results revealed that the four aforementioned variables all had a significant Wilke's Lambda: subjective norm (F = 114.81, p < .001), attitude toward condom use (F = 93.11, p < .001), attitude toward condoms as objects (F = 39.37, p < .001), and perceived behavioral control (F = 21.83, p < .001), indicating that they were all appropriate to retain in the model. The Wilke's Lambda for both discriminant function eigenvalues were also significant (p < .001). These results show that attitudes toward condoms, as well as subjective norms, attitudes toward condom use, and perceived behavioral control were important variables for predicting condom use intention group membership. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the importance of examining attitudes toward condoms as objects as well as attitudes toward condom use when addressing condom use intentions and behaviors. Public health professionals should consider this when addressing barriers to using condoms.