Health Psychology, Vol 45(7), Jul 2026, 773-785; doi:10.1037/hea0001593
Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze correlates of condom use among Black adolescents and assess the moderating roles of gender and age. Method: A systematic search was conducted of studies published between January 2000 and February 2024 using Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Communication Source databases. Studies were included if they sampled adolescents from the United States, included an adolescent report of condom use behavior and one of 36 correlates of interest, included a bivariate statistical association between a correlate and condom use, were in English, and at least 90% of participants self-identified as Black. Data extracted included sample size, participant demographics, research design, and condom use measurement characteristics. Correlation coefficients and 95% CI were computed, and random effects meta-analyses were used. Results: Forty-two studies with 47 independent samples were included (16,740 adolescents; weighted mean age = 16.16). Nine correlates were significantly associated with condom use. Condom communication with a partner had the largest mean effect size (r = .42, 95% CI; .13–.65; p = .006), followed by condom use intentions (r = .32, 95% CI; .21–.43; p ≤ .001). Although 61% of effects were heterogeneous, we were only able to examine moderation by age for two correlates (i.e., gender, substance use/abuse) due to a lack of studies. Moderation analyses were not significant. Conclusions: This study identified the strongest correlates of condom use among Black adolescents and highlighted notable gaps in previous research. Results can be used to guide future work with this population, including the development of sexual health interventions tailored for Black adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)