| Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a significant health issue for young women, particularly for women using oral contraception. The intent of this study was to determine whether a model based on Rotter's (1954) Social Learning Theory could predict self-report of intention to engage in unprotected vaginal intercourse among young adult women on the pill. The components of SLT, Behavior Potential (BP), Freedom of Movement (FM), Need Value (NV), and the Psychological Situation, as they relate to a sexual context, were evaluated in this research.; Pilot Studies were conducted to identify FM and NV reinforcers of unprotected vaginal sex. Five reinforcer "need areas" were identified: Freedom from Disease, Image Maintenance, Love and Acceptance, Embarrassment about Condoms, and Uninterrupted Sex. Four potential psychological situations, in which unprotected vaginal intercourse might occur, were also identified: Serious Relationship, Casual Sexual Situation, Serious Relationship with Alcohol, and Casual Sexual Situation with Alcohol.; The instruments designed by the researcher attempted to measure BP for the intention to engage in unprotected vaginal sex, and the predictive utility of FM and NV for reinforcers of that behavior, in each of four sexual situations. Sixty participants filled out BP, FM, and NV measures, a demographic questionnaire and an STD knowledge test. Exploratory hypotheses investigating the predictive utility of the five need areas, and empirical questions related to the STD) Test scores, were also explored.; Participants reported they were very likely to engage in unprotected vaginal sex in the two Serious Relationship situations and very unlikely to do so in the two Casual Sexual situations. The skewed distribution and restricted range of BP made correlation with FM and NV statistically unlikely. Although this feature of the data hindered finding statistical significance, the results highlight the importance of the situation in shaping young women's sexual behavior, and the value of carefully defining the Psychological Situation in SLT research. Results also indicated alcohol had no impact on behavioral intent, and NV reinforcer category sub-scores were always higher than FM sub-scores. Issues of relationship quality, gender socialization and STD knowledge were also discussed. |
