The Regulatory Focus Theory proposes that people more focused on prevention are motivated by safety and aim to avoid adverse outcomes, whereas people more focused on promotion are motivated by pleasure and seek to attain positive outcomes. Several studies have shown that prevention (vs. promotion) focused people are more aware of health threats and more likely to adopt health-protective behaviors, including being more careful with their sexual behavior. We examined if having a predominant focus on prevention or promotion were uniquely associated with intentions to get tested for STIs and behavioral control over condom use. We conducted an online survey with Portuguese adults (N = 836; Mage = 22.27, SD = 5.14) and computed two hierarchical linear regressions to examine the extent to which prevention and promotion scores were uniquely associated with intentions to get tested for any STI, and with behavioral control over condom use. Results showed that participants more focused on prevention scores were less concerned about STIs, perceived to be less susceptible to STI acquisition, and had condomless sex less frequently. In contrast, individuals more focused on promotion knew more STIs, got tested for more STIs, were more concerned about STIs, perceived to be more susceptible to STI acquisition, and had condomless sex more frequently. Furthermore, participants had stronger intentions to get tested for STIs if they had already been tested in the past, were more concerned about STIs, perceived greater susceptibility to STIs acquisition, and were more focused on promotion (but not prevention). Participants had greater behavioral control over condom use if they had condomless sex less often in the past and were more focused on prevention (but not promotion). Our findings highlight that different motivations in sexuality play critical roles in sexual health decision-making. People more focused on prevention focus enacted more condom use are more willing to continue that course of action and have more control over that behavior. Despite having enacted less condom use, people more focused on promotion enacted more STI testing and are more willing to continue that course of action.

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