PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Approximately one in four teens in the United
States will contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD),
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts believe a major contributing factor is the failure of
many teens to use condoms consistently and routinely. Now a new
study provides some insight into some of the factors that
influence condom use among teenagers. Researchers from the
Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center and three other
institutions surveyed more than 1,400 adolescents and young
adults between the ages of 15 and 21 who had unprotected sex in
the previous 90 days. They found that teens who did not use
condoms were significantly more likely to believe that condoms
reduce sexual pleasure and were also more concerned that their
partner would not approve of condom use. The findings appear in
the September/October issue of Public Health Reports. "It's
clear that we have to address these attitudes, fears and
concerns that many teens have regarding condom