Preferences for condom placement in stores among young Dutch men and women: relationships with embarrassment and motives for having sex.
BACKGROUND
Condom purchasing is an important preparation for condom use. The present study examined if products surrounding condoms in the store play a role in preferences for where to buy condoms among young people.


METHODS
Sixty-nine men and 111 women (<30 years) completed an online questionnaire on their preferences for condom placement, associated embarrassment with these placements, and motives for having sex.


RESULTS
Fifty percent of men and 70% of women indicated the counter as least preferred placement. Two-fifths of men and women preferred the sensual context, including among sex toys and lubricants; however, the remainder of participants, particularly women, preferred other less sexual contexts. Both the counter and sensual placement were strongly associated with embarrassment, and this, in turn, was predictive of placement preference. Finally, the motive for having sex to experience intimacy was negatively related to counter preference, and the motive for having sex to experience pleasure was negatively related to the neutral placement and the female personal care placement preferences.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that using multiple and alternative placements for condoms in stores may encourage condom purchasing behaviour among young people.
Clinical Health and Neuropsychology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, 2300 RB Leiden, Netherlands.
Winifred A
WA
Gebhardt
Margot P
MP
van der Doef
Nicole
N
Billingy
Malou
M
Carstens
Ingrid
I
Steenhuis
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003132:Commerce; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003463:Cues; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult