Sexually Active Teenagers: The Use of Theory

Sexually Active Teenagers:

The Use of Theory to Protect America's Youth

In 2003, sixty two percent of American high school seniors admitted to being sexually active. The use of condoms in the high school population has increased over the last decade; however, not all teenagers are using any form of contraception (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005). In order to protect against unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and infections, the public health department must influence the use of condoms to sexually active teenagers. To best assist with this task, Martin Fishbein and Icek Ajzen's Theories of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior will be a most valuable resource in forming a thoroughly strong campaign.

In the mid- to late 1970s, Martin Fishbein and Icek Ajzen proposed the Theory of Reasoned Action, which began as solely a study of attitude. It later developed into including behavior as well. The two claimed that a person's voluntary behavior is able to be predicted based on the subject's attitude towards the behavior, as well as how they would be viewed in the event that they perform the behavior. Combined with subjective norms, a person's attitude creates one's behavioral intentions (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980). To elaborate further, the Theory of Planned Behavior determines that the behaviors of a subject are based on their intentions (Bozionelos & Bennet, 1999).

Both theories involve each attitude, behavior, and social norms. Social norms are the behavioral expectations and cues with a society or group that a population views as required (ChangingMinds.org, 2011), and it would be best to assess social norms in the fight to influence sexually active teenagers to use condoms. By changing the social and subjective norms, the intentions the use of a condom of a sexually active teenager may very well change. The campaign could be introduced that sexual activity without contraception is dumb, not cool, or potentially can lead to terrible consequences. Teenagers must be aware of the risks of not using contraception, while at the same time, having the perception that the risks are undesirable in their society.

In addressing these risks publicly, teenagers will be conscientious of the dangers of not using a condom. Evaluating the potential outcomes of not using contraception will become a natural portion of the process of deciding to partake in sexual activity. For this to become natural in the social norm process, the intentions of sexual activity and contraception may change to protection of oneself and others, then lead to the natural behavior of protection. As the concept of using contraception becomes an acceptable social norm, contraception may be carried on person to protect against a negative outcome, to fit social norms expected, or to avoid negative thoughts or concerns from others.