Adolescent Relationships and Condom Use: Trust, Love and Commitment

• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-005-3902-2
• Publication Date: 2005-06-02T12:26:38Z
• Authors: Laurie J. Bauman; Rebecca Berman
• Keywords: Health psychology

Research indicates that people use condoms less often with a regular sexual partner than with a casual partner because they believe condoms are not needed. This article reports qualitative findings from four group meetings and 11 in-depth interviews in which sexually experienced inner-city adolescents aged 14-17 talked about their sexual relationships. Three types of relationships were described: messing, for sex only; boy-girlfriend, a more intense relationship, and "hubby-wifey," which mimics marriage. The four types of relationships differ along four analytic dimensions, which give them meaning: future commitment; public vs. secret; expectation of monogamy; and degree of affection and love. Decisions about condom use are influenced by these dimensions which may be underestimated in theoretical models that focus on individuals, not couples.