Does adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder influence condom use for sexual intercourse? A quantitative study

Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been identified with impulsive behavior frequently characterized by risk taking and/or carelessness; that behavior can extend into sexual activity. While sexually transmitted infections can be a behavioral outcome of not using a condom, there is insufficient evidence whether having an adult ADHD status influences condom nonuse behavior. This quantitative study sought to investigate, relative to men without ADHD and men with ADHD but without impulsivity, whether (a) having a status of adult ADHD with features of impulsivity influences the behavior of condom nonuse for sexual intercourse, and (b) having an adult ADHD status with features of impulsivity influences the failure to contemplate condom use for sexual intercourse. A modified convenience sampling method was used to obtain participants in 11 states across the continental United States. A total of 102 men between 18 and 70 years of age responded. Of those, 67 met the inclusionary criteria. The findings of this study did not support the hypothesis that having an adult ADHD status with features of impulsivity significantly influences condom nonuse, or the failure to contemplate condom use. There were limitations to the study which may have affected the reliability and/or validity of its outcomes. These stemmed mainly from issues related to the collection of the convenience sample, and included the limitations of the protocol utilized for acquiring qualified participants.