ABSTRACT

Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise among young women, and a key factor in STI prevention is partner communication about STIs. Because entertainment narratives are shown to positively influence behavior change, the current study examined whether exposure to a romance novel excerpt wherein successful STI communication was modeled (versus one without) was associated with increased STI communication intentions. Guided by the Integrative Model for Behavioral Prediction, we also explored potential cognitive mechanisms of narrative exposure (i.e., self-efficacy, attitudes, normative beliefs) on behavioral intentions. Results of an experimental study with single, sexually-active college aged females (N = 166), showed exposure to a narrative including behavioral modeling was associated with increased perceived injunctive norms for STI communication. Self-efficacy and descriptive norms were also associated with STI communication intentions. Results suggest that when developing text-based STI communication narratives, it may be particularly important to build self-confidence and frame STI communication behavior as something others do.

摘要

性传播感染 (STI) 的发病率在年轻女性中呈上升趋势，而性传播感染预防的一个关键因素是性传播感染的伴侣沟通。由于娱乐叙事被证明对行为改变产生积极影响，因此当前的研究检查了接触一部成功的 STI 交流模型（与没有）的浪漫小说摘录是否与 STI 交流意图的增加有关。在行为预测综合模型的指导下，我们还探索了叙事暴露（即自我效能、态度、规范信念）对行为意图的潜在认知机制。对单身、性活跃的大学年龄女性 (N = 166) 进行的实验研究结果，表明暴露于包括行为建模在内的叙述与增加的 STI 交流感知禁令规范有关。自我效能感和描述性规范也与性传播疾病传播意图相关。结果表明，在开发基于文本的 STI 传播叙述时，建立自信并像其他人一样构建 STI 传播行为可能尤为重要。