Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical - ETR Associates

attitudes about condoms and contraception; valuesand pressures from their families and peers;and their skills to avoid situations that might leadto sex and to using contraception. The ultimategoal of activities to address intentions is to helpyouth decide quite clearly what they intend to do(and not do) sexually during the coming monthsor years (Gerrard, Gibbons et al. 2003) (seeActivity 8-1: Creating Personal Sexual Limits).2. Make commitments to themselves (or to others)to implement their intentions. Althoughsome theorists use the words “intentions” and“commitments” almost interchangeably, othersbelieve that people are more likely to implementtheir intentions if they make a pledge or commitmentto themselves or to others to engage inparticular behaviors. For example, research hasshown that public pledges to abstain from sexhave delayed the initiation of sex under someconditions (Bearman and Bruckner 2001).3. Create a clear plan for implementing theirintentions. An effective means to help youthtranslate their intentions into behavior is to helpthem create a clear, specific plan detailing when,where and how the desired behavior will beperformed (Gollwitzer 1999) (see Activity 8-2:Creating a Plan to Stick to Their Limits).4. Identify possible barriers to implementing theirintentions and methods of overcoming thosebarriers so that they are more likely to succeedin implementing their intentions. Youth shouldidentify barriers specific to their own intentionsand find strategies that will help them addressthose barriers. Many of the approaches to identifyingand overcoming barriers are covered in priorchapters, but reviewing them in the context oftheir own intentions may be helpful (see Activity8-2: Creating a Plan to Stick to Their Limits).How have intentions been measured?Table 8-4 lists illustrative items that have been usedto measure adolescents’ intentions.Table8-4Positive orNegativeFactorIntention to have sex+ I intend to abstain from sex until I am older.+I intend to abstain from sex until I am married.Positive orNegativeFactor+If+IfExamples of Items That Have Been Usedto Measure Intentions to Have Sex orUse Condoms or Contraception 11Each item with a + sign represents a positiveintention and a protective factor, while each itemwith a – sign represents a negative intention and arisk factor. Thus, within each scale, items with a +sign should be scored in the opposite direction ofthose with a – sign.Intention to use condoms orcontraceptionI have sexual intercourse in the next year, I amsure that I will always use a condom.I have sexual intercourse in the next year, I amsure that I will always use an effective method ofcontraception.11 Most of these items are based on actual questions used to measurefactors in previous research. These items specify more precisely someof the factors that are related to behavior and therefore can be helpfulwhen designing programs to address the proximal sexual factors. Theyalso can be used to create items for questionnaires in survey research.ConclusionsMultiple studies have demonstrated that, in general,people’s intentions to engage in particular behaviorsare directly related to their subsequently engaging inthose behaviors. Multiple studies also have demonstratedthat young people’s intentions to engage insexual activity or remain abstinent or to use condomsor other forms of contraception are related tothose behaviors. However, good intentions do notalways lead to desired behavior. Sometimes intentionsare weak, people do not have the needed skillsto implement them, or their environment thwartstheir efforts.Nevertheless, if curricula improve young people’sknowledge and values about sexual issues, improvetheir attitudes, increase perceived support from102 Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical Guide for Developing and Adapting Curriculum-Based Programs