The effect of condom use and erotic instructions on attitudes toward condoms

Abstract

It was hypothesized that erotic experiences with condoms would cause attitudes toward condoms to become more positive. Heterosexual couples were randomly assigned to three conditions. Couples received either condoms with instructions on how to incorporate them into sensuous foreplay, condoms only, or no condoms and no instructions. All couples received pre‐ and post‐tests on the Attitude Toward Condoms Scale (Brown, 1984). Both of the intervention groups used condoms over a two‐week period. A 3 x 2 x 2 (treatment x gender x pre‐post) design was used, and the analysis revealed that only those who received the erotic instructions had significantly enhanced attitudes toward condoms. The results are discussed in terms of future research and application of an intervention to enhance attitudes toward condoms.