The social representation of the condom amongst Greek students : an object drawn from social obscurity into the spotlight
Part of : Hellenic journal of psychology ; Vol.2, No.3, 2005, pages 260-286
Issue:
Pages:
260-286
Abstract:
The goal of this paper was to establish whether a social representation (SR) of thecondom has risen out of public concern about HIV protection. Greek student participants listedhierarchically their thoughts in response to the stimulus "condom". These verbal data weresubmitted to content analysis that yielded 32 themes. The frequency and ranking position of eachtheme on participants' listings were used as criteria to classify the themes and thus identify thestructural parts (Core, Perimeters, Periphery) of the SR. The themes were also submitted toprincipal component analysis. The resulting factors were inscribed in the identified SR in order toascertain the conceptual coherence of its structural parts. The Core of the condom SR lackedcoherence because its contents were divided amongst different factors; nevertheless, they revealedthat the understanding that condoms must be used consistently was confounded with fear. Incontrast, content coherence in the Perimeter implied that the condom has been re-conceptualizedas a device generally averting intercourse-related risks, such as unwanted pregnancy and sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs). Findings suggest that there is no well-established condom SR;instead, a knowledge structure in the process of evolving into a SR. Condom use promotion againstHIV should capitalize on the above re-conceptualization of the condom and work towardsresolving confounding between the campaign dictate of consistent use and fear.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
condom use, HIV, social representation
Notes:
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