title: Women's self-efficacy and sexually transmitted disease preventive behaviors.
abstract: Knowledge of sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention, perceived risk for STDs, and self-efficacy for STD prevention were investigated as predictors of behavioral risk for STDs in 308 female college students. Perceived risk and self-efficacy predicted 19% of behavioral risk for STD; knowledge was not a predictor. Self-efficacy was highest for communicating about STD prevention and lowest for refusing sexual intercourse. Interventions that enhance both women's self-efficacy to prevent STDs and accurate risk appraisal are likely to be more effective than those that emphasize only knowledge of prevention techniques.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, School of Nursing, Charlottesville 22903-3395, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Trumbetta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires