title: Preparatory behavior for condom use among heterosexual young men: a longitudinal mediation model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Motivation is not sufficient to actually use condoms, as self-regulatory processes are needed to translate motivation into action. Buying condoms and carrying them constitute preparatory behaviors that may serve as proximal predictors of action. Whether or not such preparatory behaviors operate as mediators between intention and action within a broader behavior change framework has been examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 150 heterosexual men between ages 18 and 25 years responded at three points in time to a computer-based survey that assessed behavior as well as social-cognitive antecedents. A structural equation model was specified that included preparatory behaviors and self-efficacy as mediators at Time 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preparatory behaviors were the most proximal predictors of condom use, and they were, themselves, predicted by self-efficacy and intention. The latter was partly determined by positive emotional outcome expectancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To bridge the intention-behavior gap, preparatory behaviors play a mediating role, and they represent a side of planning that constitutes the most proximal predictor of condom use.
authors.affiliation: University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal telma.teu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Telma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria-João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barz
authors.affiliation: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D017280:Condoms; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HIV/AIDS; behavioral theories; health behavior; health protective behavior; sex behavior