This study examined the relationship between three heuristic cues (consistency, liking and social proof) and condom use in casual sex relationships utilising the theory of planned behaviour.

Totally, 388 US college students were surveyed.

Three vignettes for each cue primed students to project their willingness to use a condom during casual sex encounters.

Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed that the cues exerted significant main effects on attitude (F(5, 1,935) = 6.16, p < .001), subjective norms (F(5, 1,930) = 5.626, p < .001), perceived behavioural control (F(5, 1,935) = 8.51, p < .001) and behavioural intentions (F(5, 1,930) = 2.44, p = .033). Post hoc analysis revealed condom avoidance behavioural intentions were more likely for the vignette depicting social proof (M = –1.26, standard deviation [SD] = 1.08).

Findings indicate that heuristic cues influence college students’ condom use intentions, and prevention programmes should incorporate cues to increase effectiveness.