Correlates of Incorrect Condom Use among Depressed Young Women: An Event-level Analysis

Abstract 

Study Objective

Depressed young women are at particularly high risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yet little is known about their condom use practices. This study sought (1) to describe condom use errors among depressed adolescent and young adult women and (2) to identify event- and individual-level correlates of incorrect use.

Design

Depressed, sexually active outpatients ages 15–22 responded to a computer-based questionnaire, then reported on penile-vaginal sex events on a handheld computer several times a day for two weeks. For each sex event with a condom, incorrect condom use was defined as a response indicating incorrect use on at least one of five questions. Event- and individual-level correlates of incorrect use were analyzed using logistic regression adjusted for age and within-individual clustering.

Setting

Participants were recruited from two adolescent clinics, a psychiatric clinic, and a young parents’ program of an urban children’s hospital and collected data in the settings of their everyday lives.

Participants

Thirty-one young women contributed 143 condom use events to these analyses.

Interventions

None.

Main Outcome Measure

Incorrect condom use.

Results

Incorrect condom use was reported for 51% of condom use events. The most common error was not holding the condom on withdrawal (31%). Having sex to change mood, to relax, or for physical pleasure increased the odds of incorrect condom use, but was no longer significant when individual-level variables were included in the model. In the multiple logistic regression model, impulsiveness increased and stronger belief that mood affects sexual behaviors decreased the odds of incorrect condom use (adjusted OR 1.3 and 0.81, respectively).

Conclusions

Even if they use condoms, depressed adolescent and young adult women are at increased risk of STIs because they frequently use condoms incorrectly. Psychological factors may help identify depressed young women who are at particularly high risk of incorrect condom use.

Key Words: Condoms, Adolescent, Young adult, Depressive symptoms, Sexual behavior