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Gender Differences in Condom Use Behavior? The Role of Power and Partner-Type

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Abstract

The primary goal of this study was to experimentally investigate the theory of gender and power (Wingood and DiClemente, Health Education and Behavior 27:539–565, 2000) in order to better understand gender differences in condom use behavior. The influence of relationship power (equal or low), partner-type (serious or casual), and gender on difficulty implementing condom use was explored using experimental vignettes. Heterosexual, sexually active, undergraduate students from a private university in the United States (N = 203) indicated how “difficult” it would be to implement condom use in a variety of situations. Results revealed a significant main effect for power and partner-type, qualified by a significant three-way interaction. The consistency of these findings with the predictions of the theory and methodological limitations are discussed.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Kate B. Carey, Peter A. Vanable, and Tanya L. Eckert for their valuable comments and suggestions which helped to enhance this project in many ways. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the individuals who willingly participated and shared their time and experience in order to make this research possible. This research was conducted in partial fulfillment of a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology in the Graduate School of Syracuse University.

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Correspondence to Sarah E. Woolf.

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Woolf, S.E., Maisto, S.A. Gender Differences in Condom Use Behavior? The Role of Power and Partner-Type. Sex Roles 58, 689–701 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9381-3

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