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Prevent2Protect Project: Regulatory Focus Differences in Sexual Health Knowledge and Practices
David L Rodrigues1, Richard O de Visser2, Diniz Lopes3
1Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, CIS-Iscte, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026, Lisbon, Portugal. dflrs@iscte-iul.pt.
People
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sexual Health
- Health Behavior
Background:
- Health decisions are influenced by two motivational systems: prevention of harm and promotion of pleasure.
- Prevention focus leads to avoiding negative outcomes and protective behaviors.
- Promotion focus leads to pursuing positive outcomes and risk-taking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if regulatory focus (prevention vs. promotion) influences sexual health knowledge and practices.
- To extend the understanding of motivational systems to sexual health behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A pre-registered online survey was conducted with 742 Portuguese and Spanish adults.
- Participants reported on their sexually transmitted infection (STI) knowledge and sexual health practices.
- Demographic factors were controlled for in the analysis.
Main Results:
- Prevention-focused individuals had broader STI awareness from scientific sources but fewer past STI tests.
- Promotion-focused individuals had specific STI knowledge from medical/peer sources and more frequent STI testing.
- Promotion-focused individuals also reported more routine sexual health check-ups and contraceptive use.
Conclusions:
- Motivational systems significantly shape sexual health knowledge and practices.
- Understanding regulatory focus can inform targeted sexual health interventions.
- Different motives influence how individuals engage with sexual health information and services.
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