Protection motivation theory and prevention of risky sexual behavior Cover Image

Предпазно-мотивационна теория и превенция на рисковото сексуално поведение
Protection motivation theory and prevention of risky sexual behavior

Author(s): Daniel Petrov
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Psychology, Personality Psychology
Published by: Софийски университет »Св. Климент Охридски«
Keywords: protection motivation theory; risk; sexual behavior

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses the application of protection motivation theory (PMT) in the research on safer sexual behavior and health promotion in the Bulgarian sociocultural context (n = 197, 18–22 years old). The aim of the empirical study is to explore the role of the components of the PMT on the formation of intentions to use condoms among university students. The study is based on 20-item instrument to assess PMT components (cognitive appraisals, fear, maladaptive coping, and behavioral intentions) in relation to AIDS and condom use (Ho, 2000) and 8-item scale of past sexual behavior (Ingledew and Ferguson, 2007). The results suggest that an effective focus of the prevention programs would be the self-efficacy and response effectiveness of the condoms, rather than the fear. Adding a scale of past sexual behavior permits to attain higher percentage of explained variance over and beyond PMT variables. The role of some sociodemographic factors is also assessed.