Promiscuous or Confident? Attitudinal Ambivalence Toward Condom Purchase

Sexual Decision Making When Intoxicated: Women's Reasons for and Against Having Sex in a Laboratory-Based Scenario

Young adult women report high condom use intentions, but inconsistent condom use. Cognitive appraisals during sexual encounters are important determinants of condom use decisions, but a nuanced understanding of what cognitions emerge during women's "hot states" (e.g., sexual arousal, alcohol intoxication) remains lacking. To address this gap, we examined women's heat of the moment cognitions in their own words using mixed methods. Young adult women (N = 503; Mage = 25.01, SDage = 2.66) were randomized to a beverage condition (alcohol or control), then read and responded to questions about an eroticized sexual scenario. The nature and strength of reasons for and against having sex were reported before and after learning no condom was available. Multilevel models revealed intoxicated participants were more likely to let the partner decide how far to go sexually than sober participants at both timepoints, but the strength of cognitive appraisals (reasons for, reasons against, and feeling conflicted) only differed between beverage conditions after knowledge of no condom. These results suggest alcohol myopia was evident in the presence of inhibition conflict. Content analysis of these reasons revealed multifaceted cognitions that changed upon learning there was no condom. Findings highlight cognitions to target through interventions and underscore the importance of both alcohol and situational context in decision making.

Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Campus-Wide Pharmacy Vending Machine Program

Lack of access to affordable, accessible, over-the-counter medications and health-related items affects school attendance, academic performance, and individual health. Increasing access through innovations, such as Pharmacy Vending Machines (PhVMs), may address the burdens students face in university settings. In January 2021, two PhVMs were placed on Purdue University's campus to increase access to affordable and dependable 24/7 family planning items, cold/flu remedies, and other popular over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Based on the success of the initiative and growing student body, the program was expanded to include two additional machines in August 2021. In this article, we detail how Purdue University planned, implemented, and evaluated a campus-wide PhVM program, which was an interdisciplinary collaboration across students, faculty, and staff in the College of Health and Human Sciences and College of Pharmacy. Pharmaceutical product availability in convenient vending machines dispersed throughout a campus contributes to a solution for the increasing demand for health products among consumers in large geographic areas.

Is non-variety boring? The perception of consumers who incorporate variety or non-variety in their consumer choices

Previous research has shown that self-presentation could be a relevant motive in explaining variety-seeking behavior. Individuals anticipate that sticking to a limited range of one’s favorites would make a negative impression on others, and others might conclude that they are boring or narrow-minded (Ariely and Levav Journal of Consumer Research, 27, 279–290, 2000; Ratner and Kahn The Journal of Consumer Research, 29, 246–257, 2002). In our research, we wanted to investigate this lay assumption. We also hypothesized the moderating role of a consumer’s gender. The results of study 1 (N = 211) confirmed that incorporating variety in consumer behavior may be a cue for social perception. Consumers who preferred non-variety in consumer choices were evaluated as less socially attractive than those who preferred variety. However, female consumers who preferred variety were evaluated as less responsible. These results were replicated in study 2 (N = 276). The study also revealed the mediational role of the evaluation of a consumer’s predictability in the relationship between her variety seeking and social attractiveness. Study 2 also showed the moderating role of participant gender in the evaluation of a consumer’s responsibility. The female consumer who incorporated variety in her consumer choices was evaluated as less responsible, but only when she was described as a mother and wife and only by female participants.

Using the theory of planned behavior and self-identity to explore women's decision-making and intention to switch from combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) to long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC)

Background

\Most college women use the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) despite more effective long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods (e.g., IUDs and implant) being available. Resistance to change methods may be impacted by how a woman identifies with being a COC-user.

Methods

Data were collected via 186 web-based surveys distributed to female students attending a university in the southeastern United States (Mean age = 20.0 ± 1.; range = 18–22). Structural equation modeling (SEM) determined TPB fit in understanding LARC intention.

Results

SEM results received acceptable fit (χ2 (670, N = 186) p < 0.01, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.84, and Normative Fit Index (NFI) of 0.75). A Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.09 was produced, with a 90% confidence interval of 0.08 to 0.09. Including self-identity in the model yielded similar fit, with χ2 (866, N = 186) p < 0.01, CFI of 0.83, and NFI of 0.73. Self-identity and attitude pathways were significant (p < 0.01) toward intention, extending the TPB model.

Conclusions

The TPB proved to be acceptable in understanding COC users’ intention to obtain LARC. Results provide direction for LARC messaging tailored toward COC users and self-identity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-019-0772-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Social Utility of Ambivalence: Being Ambivalent on Controversial Issues Is Recognized as Competence

Research on attitudinal ambivalence is flourishing, but no research has studied how others perceive its expression. We tested the hypothesis that the expression of attitudinal ambivalence could be positively valued if it signals careful consideration of an issue. More specifically, ambivalence should be judged higher on social utility (competence) but not on social desirability (warmth), compared to clear-cut attitudes. This should be the case for controversial (vs. consensual) issues, where ambivalence can signal some competence. The participants in four experiments indeed evaluated ambivalence higher on a measure of social utility, compared to clear-cut (pro-normative and counter-normative) attitudes, when the attitude objects were controversial; they judged pro-normative attitudes higher for both social utility and social desirability when the attitude objects were consensual. Attitudinal ambivalence can therefore be positively valued, as it is perceived as competence when the expression of criticism is socially accepted.

Consumer ambivalence toward contraception – towards an integrative framework

Purpose

– This paper aims to introduce a comprehensive conceptual framework to study the influence of “consumer ambivalence towards contraception” and “intercourse frequency” along with attitudes toward contraception and satisfaction with most familiar contraceptive method, on contraceptive usage and intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A team of trained female interviewers used a structured questionnaire to conduct a clinic-intercept survey with 588 sexually active female consumers in two major hospitals and six randomly chosen clinics in Singapore (response rate = 29 per cent).

Findings

– Consumer attitudes toward contraception, satisfaction with most familiar contraceptive method and intercourse frequency have a positive effect on contraceptive usage. Consumer ambivalence toward contraception has a negative effect on usage and intentions and it negatively moderates the effects of attitudes, satisfaction and intercourse frequency.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper explores the role of consumer ambivalence toward contraception in general and not toward specific contraceptive methods. Moreover, it does not measure differences in the impact of personal cultural values and orientations of the participants on contraceptive usage. These could be useful avenues for future research.

Practical implications

– By clarifying the reasons for inconsistent contraception usage, this research will help health-care professionals, social workers and welfare organizations develop more focused consumer education programs and communication campaigns to reduce consumer ambivalence about contraception and improve contraception usage rates.

Originality/value

– This paper extends prior research on consumer ambivalence by exploring its direct and moderating impact on contraceptive usage, an important issue for female health and well-being. The authors also show intercourse frequency as a moderator in this process.

Preferences for condom placement in stores among young Dutch men and women: relationships with embarrassment and motives for having sex

BACKGROUND

Condom purchasing is an important preparation for condom use. The present study examined if products surrounding condoms in the store play a role in preferences for where to buy condoms among young people.

METHODS

Sixty-nine men and 111 women (<30 years) completed an online questionnaire on their preferences for condom placement, associated embarrassment with these placements, and motives for having sex.

RESULTS

Fifty percent of men and 70% of women indicated the counter as least preferred placement. Two-fifths of men and women preferred the sensual context, including among sex toys and lubricants; however, the remainder of participants, particularly women, preferred other less sexual contexts. Both the counter and sensual placement were strongly associated with embarrassment, and this, in turn, was predictive of placement preference. Finally, the motive for having sex to experience intimacy was negatively related to counter preference, and the motive for having sex to experience pleasure was negatively related to the neutral placement and the female personal care placement preferences.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that using multiple and alternative placements for condoms in stores may encourage condom purchasing behaviour among young people.

Adolescents' evaluative beliefs of failure: explorations in a Chinese Singaporean sample

Our study explored evaluative beliefs of failure to see whether positive and negative beliefs of failure are bivariate in nature within three domains of an adolescent's life (academic, social, and athletic) and how such beliefs are differentially linked to the importance of a domain, the frequency of failure in a domain, and the extremity of negative emotions experienced when encountering failure in a domain. A total of 163 Chinese Singaporean students in Secondary 3 and 4 (Grades 9 and 10) from two Singapore schools participated in the study by completing a questionnaire. Results from various analyses converged to demonstrate that evaluative beliefs could be distinguished by both valence (positive and negative) and domain (academic, social, and athletic). The six evaluative beliefs were also distinguished from failure attributions. While there was consensus in what constituted negative beliefs of failure across domains, positive beliefs of failure showed some domain specificity, with unique aspects in particular domains (e.g., the inevitability of failure only in the academic domain). Positive and negative beliefs in the different domains were correlated among themselves, but positive and negative beliefs were uncorrelated within (except for academic) and across domains. Positive and negative beliefs were also differentially linked to domain importance, failure frequency, and extremity of negative emotion. Unexpectedly, domain importance was not linked to negative beliefs but was linked to positive beliefs, while positive and negative beliefs showed domain-specific links with failure frequency. As expected, however, negative beliefs were (positively) linked to extremity of negative emotions while positive beliefs were not linked to such extremity. The conceptual, substantive, and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Barriers to condom purchasing: Effects of product positioning on reactions to condoms

Correct and consistent condom use has been promoted as a method to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Yet research has repeatedly shown that people fail to use condoms consistently. One influence on the pervasive lack of condom use that has received relatively little attention is the context in which consumers are exposed to condoms (i.e., how condoms are displayed in retail settings). In this paper we present two studies explored variations in condom shelf placement and its effects on people's condom attitudes and acquisition. Study 1 explored the shelf placement of condoms in 59 retail outlets in Connecticut, USA and found that condoms were typically located in areas of high visibility (e.g., next to the pharmacy counter) and on shelves adjacent to feminine hygiene and disease treatment products. In Study 2, 120 heterosexual undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut were randomly assigned to evaluate condoms adjacent to sensual, positive, neutral, or negative products and found that overall men reported more positive attitudes and acquired more condoms when exposed to condoms in a sensual context compared to women in the same condition. Among women, condom attitudes were more positive in the context of neutral products; condom acquisition was strongest for women exposed to condoms in the positive aisles. These results suggest a gender-specific approach to condom promotion. Implications of these studies for HIV prevention, public health, and condom marketing strategies are discussed.