Condom Promotion Videos for College Students

CONDOM PROMOTION VIDEOS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

OVERVIEW

Two videos were developed to promote condom use among college students. The male video featured males discussing condom use. The female video featured females discussing condom use. In developing the videos, researchers felt that heterosexual males might respond more favorably to watching females discuss the virtues of condom use and heterosexual females might respond more favorably to watching males discuss the virtues of condom use.

In an experimental study, college students assigned to watch either video were compared with students randomly assigned to watch no video. Additionally, comparisons were made between students assigned to watch the male video and students assigned to watch the female video.

Four months after video-watching, subjects who watched either video were significantly more confident in their ability to refuse to have sex without a condom than were subjects who did not watch a video. Additionally, subjects who watched either video were significantly more likely to intend to use condoms in the future than were subjects who watched no video.

Among subjects who engaged in sexual intercourse during the four-month follow-up period, subjects who watched either video were significantly more likely than subjects who did not watch a video to have used a condom the last time they had sex with a regular partner. Subjects who watched either video were no more likely than subjects who did not watch a video to have used a condom the last time they had sex with a new or casual partner, however. Subjects who watched the female video were more likely to engage in consistent condom use than were subjects who watched the male video or subjects who watched no video, but this result was only marginally significant. Results did not vary by the gender of the viewer, however.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: college students

Two videos were developed to promote condom use among college students. Each video was 30 minutes long and consisted of three distinct sections. The first section provided introductory information on HIV. College students’ vulnerability to the infection was emphasized, and condom use and HIV testing were recommended. The middle section featured a group of college students discussing condom use. Discussion focused on how using condoms shows respect for one’s partner and how condom use can be erotic. The final section included statistics on STD rates, showed a clip of a couple discussing condom use in the context of an ongoing relationship, demonstrated correct condom use, and demonstrated the difficulty of using condoms while intoxicated.

The videos were identical except that the middle section of the male video featured males discussing condom use and the middle section of the female video featured females discussing condom use. In developing the videos, researchers felt that heterosexual males might respond more favorably to watching females discuss the virtues of condom use and heterosexual females might respond more favorably to watching males discuss the virtues of condom use.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Sanderson, C. A. & Yopyk, D. J. A. (2007). Improving Condom Use Intentions and Behavior by Changing Perceived Partner Norms: An Evaluation of Condom Promotion Videos for College Students. Health Psychology, 26(4), 481-487.

Evaluated population: 211 heterosexual college students, including 109 women and 111 men, served as the study sample for this investigation. 85% of the subjects were white, 5% were Asian, 4% were black, 4% were Hispanic, and 2% were of other ethnicities. 85% of the subjects reported having had sex before.

Approach: Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the female video group, the male video group, or the wait-list control group. Subjects assigned to a video group were shown a condom promotion video. Subjects assigned to the control group were not shown a video.

All subjects were surveyed at baseline. Subjects assigned to one of the two video conditions completed a second survey immediately after viewing the video. All subjects were sent a follow-up survey four months later. 86% of the subjects completed this follow-up survey.

Results: Surveys administered immediately after video-watching revealed that subjects who watched the male video felt significantly greater self-efficacy for suggesting condom use to a new sexual partner than did subjects who watched the female video. However, subjects who watched the female video reported significantly greater intent to use condoms than did subjects who watched the male video. These results did not vary by the gender of the viewer.

Among subjects who engaged in sexual intercourse during the four-month follow-up period, subjects who watched either video were significantly more likely than subjects who did not watch a video to have used a condom the last time they had sex with a regular partner. Subjects who watched either video were no more likely than subjects who did not watch a video to have used a condom the last time they had sex with a new or casual partner, however. Subjects who watched the female video were more likely to engage in consistent condom use than were subjects who watched the male video or subjects that watched no video, but this result was only marginally significant. Once again, results did not vary by the gender of the viewer.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Curriculum materials unavailable for purchase.

References:

Sanderson, C. A. & Yopyk, D. J. A. (2007). Improving Condom Use Intentions and Behavior by Changing Perceived Partner Norms: An Evaluation of Condom Promotion Videos for College Students. Health Psychology, 26(4), 481-487.

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: 18+

Evaluated participant grades: college students

Program age ranges in the guide: youth

Program components: school-based or clinic/provider-based

Measured outcomes: teen pregnancy and reproductive health

KEYWORDS: Young Adulthood (18-24), College Students, Teen Pregnancy, Reproductive Health, Condom Use, Risky Sex, std/hiv/aids, Education, Skills Training, School-based, Clinic-based, Provider-based.

Program information last updated 9/19/07

		© Child Trends 2003