Action control and situational risks in the prevention of HIV and STIs: individual, dyadic, and social influences on consistent condom use in a university population.

The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of consistent condom use. We took the perspective that condom use involves the ability to handle situational risks influenced at multiple levels, including the individual, dyadic, and social. The hypothesis was that action control, as measured by self-regulation, implementation intentions, and self-efficacy, was the primary determinant. The study was conducted at part of a community-based intervention at a major university (36,000 students). Data was collected using a validated questionnaire mailed to a random sample of students (n = 493, response rate = 71.5%). Statistical analysis included logistic regression models that successively included background, individual, dyadic, and social variables. In the final model, consistent condom use was higher among students with strong implementation intentions, high self-regulation and positive peer norms. The results contribute new knowledge on action control in predicting sexual risk behaviors and lends support to the conceptualization and analysis of HIV/sexually transmitted infection prevention at multiple levels of influence.