Decisional balance of condom use and depressed mood among incarcerated male adolescents

The association between depressed mood and condom use was examined among incarcerated male adolescents. One hundred and eighty male adolescents who were detained in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States were interviewed during a period of incarceration. Contrary to patterns generally found in adult samples, nearly 50% of this adolescent sample that did not use condoms regularly actually recognized the advantages of condom use. This behavior pattern was deemed "inconsistent," and those engaging in this "inconsistent" behavior pattern were found to have a higher score of depressed mood compared to participants with a "consistent" behavior pattern. As a result, a relationship between depressed mood and decisional balance for condom use within adolescents was evident. These findings suggest that assessment and treatment of depressed mood within this high-risk population could potentially contribute to a reduction in high-risk sexual behaviors.