Assertive Communication in Condom Negotiation: Insights From Late Adolescent Couples' Subjective Ratings of Self and Partner.
OBJECTIVE
Assertive communication has been associated with higher levels of condom use among youth using self-report survey methodology. The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective ratings of assertiveness among young, romantically involved couples in the context of a condom negotiation task.


METHODS
Using an innovative video-recall procedure, 32 couples (64 youth) engaged in a videotaped condom negotiation task and then rated self and partners' level of assertiveness. Both individual ratings of assertiveness and couple-level assertiveness were assessed using dyadic hierarchical linear modeling.


RESULTS
Individuals' assertiveness was positively associated with condom use. Unexpectedly, the overall level of assertiveness in couples showed a curvilinear association with condom use. Very high and very low assertiveness was associated with lower condom use, whereas moderate levels of assertiveness were associated with higher condom use.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate levels of assertiveness during condom negotiation may facilitate condom use in young couples. Increasing condom use among romantic partners may require developing interventions that strengthen youths' ability to engage in assertive communication strategies that balance emotional intimacy with self-advocacy.
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Amy
A
Schmid
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York; Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York. Electronic address: nrl4@nyu.edu.
Noelle R
NR
Leonard
Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York.
Amanda S
AS
Ritchie
Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York.
Marya V
MV
Gwadz
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D003142:Communication; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating / Q000523:psychology*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescent sexual health; Assertiveness; Condom use; Safer sex; Sexual communication; Video-recall