Promoting condom negotiation self-efficacy among young women in China: the effects of traditional sexual values and descriptive norms.

This article focuses on an experimental study designed to promote condom negotiation self-efficacy and safer sex intent among young female college students in China by using culturally tailored messages incorporating descriptive norms. The study found that messages highlighting the prevalence of condom negotiation among peers significantly increased participants' self-efficacy in condom negotiation but did not significantly affect their safer sex intent. Traditional sexual values rooted in Confucian culture showed no significant influence on either condom negotiation self-efficacy or safer sex intent, and no interaction effects between traditional values and descriptive norms were observed. These findings suggest that culturally sensitive health messages emphasizing peer behaviors may effectively enhance young women's confidence in negotiating safer sex, with implications for public health education and policy in China.