Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

323

Date

2011

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Counseling Psychology

Committee Chair

Sharon G Horne

Committee Member

Suzanne Lease

Committee Member

Chrisann Schiro-Geist

Committee Member

Terri Ishitani

Abstract

Typically, research and interventions have relied upon social-cognitive theories like the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to understand sexual health behavior. Of particular import in the TPB model is the intention-behavior link where strength of intentions to enact a particular behavior are significantly related to actual behavior performance. Recently, investigations have sought to understand possible moderators of the intention-behavior relationship. One moderating variable examined is the common neuropsychological construct executive functioning. Executive functioning consists of skills for self-regulation, inhibition of impulsivity, organization, planning, and so forth that impact attainment of previously established goals. This study examined the possible influence of executive functioning on condom use and, in particular, whether executive functioning differences moderated the intention-behavior link. Two data collections were performed with the first assessing demographic factors, individual executive functioning, and condom use intentions for main and casual partners. The second collection occurred four-weeks later assessing condom use. It was hypothesized that no differences would emerge on important study variables between at-risk groups of young men, that intentions would continue to exhibit an influence on behavior, and that executive functioning differences would moderate the intention-behavior relationship. In the main partner context, intentions significantly influenced condom use behavior and executive functioning did not show significant influence on actual condom use. An interaction was also not observed in that context. The casual partner context showed that intentions, but not executive functioning demonstrated a significant main effect on condom use. Executive functioning and condom use was, however, significantly and positively correlated. Conclusions are presented along with recommendations for clinical practice.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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