Intentions and beliefs about getting tested for STDs: implications for communication interventions

Although sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are common among college students, there have been few studies that examine the psychological determinants of STD testing. To help address this gap in the literature, we drew on the reasoned action framework to gain insight into the cognitive processes underlying STD-testing intentions for two samples of college students (n = 181 and n = 160). More generally, we demonstrate how behavioral theory can be applied in formative research to generate recommendations for developing communication interventions. Our findings suggest that attitudes toward getting tested for STDs were the strongest determinant of intentions for the college students in our samples. Further, results of a belief analysis indicate that students who did not intend to get tested for STDs might change their mind if they could be persuaded that getting tested would show that they respect their sexual partner or that getting tested would prevent them from spreading an STD to someone else.