Sexual Risk Behavior in College Students: Does the Parent-college Student Relationship Impact Students' Condom Use?

Abstract

College students are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV⁄AIDS due to the high frequency of unprotected sexual activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). Condom use research among college aged youth has primarily concentrated on individual decision making processes with some recent focus on the impact of peer norms. To further understand college students' choices regarding sexual risk behavior, the current research examines the influence of the parent-college student relationship on college students' decisions about condom use. Building on previous research in sexual risk and alcohol use literature, the current study examines the role of parent-young adult relationship variables (i.e. facilitation of independence, and affective quality) on condom use. Parental influence has been an important predictor in other areas of college student life but has not been examined in the college student sexual risk literature. Results and implications for future studies are discussed.