“Are You Clean?” Encouraging STI Communication in Casual Encounters through Narrative Messages in Romance Novels

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual health
• sexual behavior
• entertainment education
• perceived norms
• self-efficacy
• casual sex

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kara Rader

Kara Rader is a post-doctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Her research examines how mass media content and narratives impact health attitudes and behaviors, focusing primarily on sexual health and genetic testing contexts.

Shelly R. Hovick

Shelly R. Hovick is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. She conducts quantitative and qualitative research in the areas of health and risk communication.

Elisabeth Bigsby

Elisabeth Bigsby is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She primarily conducts experimental and meta-analytic research in the areas of health and risk communication.