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Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 4, No. 2, 149-163 (1999)

Barriers to Safer Sex: Beliefs and Attitudes among Male and Female Adult Heterosexuals across Four Relationship Groups

Susan Moore

Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Andrea Parker Halford

Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

This study of 400 heterosexual adults aged 24 to 49 years comprised married, single, separated/widowed/divorced, and cohabiting participants from three occupational groups, and concerned HIV risk within this sample. Results indicated high levels of unsafe sexual behaviours for more than one-quarter of the sample, including each occupational group and relationship type. Barriers to condom use fell into five major categories: Communication Difficulties; Arousal Interference; (perceived lack of) Erotic Potential of Condoms; Trust Justification; and Practical Difficulties with Condoms. Males expressed more attitudinal barriers to condom use than females, in particular higher arousal interference and stronger use of justifications centred around trust for non-use of condoms. Higher HIV risk status was associated with maleness, younger age, single or de facto relationship status, and the attitudinal variables of high arousal interference and weaker beliefs in the erotic potential of condoms. For females only, high risk was also associated with the belief that condom use involved significant practical difficulties or 'hassles'.

Key Words: heterosexual adults • HIV/AIDS • sexuality


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