Application of the social action theory to understand factors associated with risky sexual behavior among individuals in residential substance abuse treatment
Reynolds, E.K.; Magidson, J.F.; Bornovalova, M.A.; Gwadz, M.; Ewart, C.K.; Daughters, S.B.; Lejuez, C.W.
Psychology of addictive behaviors journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors 24(2): 311-321
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1939-1501 PMID: 20565157 DOI: 10.1037/a0018929Document Number: 213213
Risky sexual behavior (RSB) is a leading cause of HIV/AIDS, particularly among urban substance users. Using the social action theory, an integrative systems model of sociocognitive, motivational, and environmental influences, as a guiding framework, the current study examined (1) environmental influences, (2) psychopathology and affect, (3) HIV-related attitudes and knowledge, and (4) self-regulatory skills/deficits as factors associated with event-level condom use (CU) among a sample of 156 substance users residing at a residential substance abuse treatment center (M age = 41.85; SD = 8.59; 75% male). RSB was assessed using event-level measurement of CU given its advantages for improved accuracy of recall and ability for an examination of situational variables. A logistic regression predicting event-level CU indicated the significant contribution of partner type (environmental influences), less favorable attitudes towards condoms (HIV-related attitudes and knowledge), and higher levels of risk-taking propensity (self-regulatory skills/deficits) in predicting greater likelihood of not having used a condom at one's most recent sexual encounter. This study contributes to the literature examining HIV risk behaviors among substance users within a theory-driven model of risk.