Prevent2Protect project: Regulatory focus differences in sexual ealth knowledge and behaviors
Event Title
XI Simpósio Nacional de Investigação em Psicologia
Year (definitive publication)
2022
Language
English
Country
Portugal
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Abstract
Individual differences in regulatory focus have been associated with distinct perceptions and
behavioral patterns. People more focused on prevention strive to avoid negative outcomes and enact
more risk protective behaviors, whereas people more focused on promotion strive to attain positive
outcomes and take more risks. As part of the Prevent2Protect project, we conducted a pre-registered
online survey with Spanish and Portuguese adults (N = 742) to examine regulatory focus differences
in self-reported STI knowledge and sexual health practices. Results showed that prevention-focused
participants had heard about more STIs and retrieved their knowledge from scientific sources but had
never been tested for more STIs in the past. In contrast, promotion-focused participants indicated they
had specific knowledge about more STIs, retrieved their knowledge from medical and peer sources,
and had been tested for more STIs in the past. They also got tested for STIs and had routine sexual
health check-ups more frequently, used free testing facilities or asked their family practice doctor to
get tested for STIs, and used other contraceptive methods such as birth control pills. These results were
not moderated by gender. Overall, our findings show how different motives in sexuality determine
sexual health beliefs and behaviors.
Acknowledgements
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