Non-Use of Condoms at Last Intercourse Among Canadian Youth: Influence of Sexual Partners and Social Expectations (Survey‪)‬

Abstract: This study examined associations between condom non-use at last intercourse, partner influences, and social expectations in a large sample of Grade 9 and 11 students using data drawn from the Canadian Youth, Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Study. Partner influences included having been pressured to have sex when they did not want to and willingness to have sex with a partner who did not want to use a condom. Social expectations included opinions regarding having sex without love, opinions about having casual sex, and communication with partners about condom use. Results indicated that some partner influences and social expectations were significantly associated with the condom nonuse. Specifically, willingness to have sex with a partner who did not want to use a condom and lower levels of condom communication were both associated with condom non-use at last intercourse by both sexes. A key finding was that having experienced pressure to have sex was associated with condom non-use only among girls. The findings suggest that youth are likely to benefit from programs that stress sexual equality and respect and that promote condom use negotiation skills. Introduction