Faculty Publication: Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology Laurel Peterson

Social-contextual Factors Interact with Masculinity to Influence College Men's HPV Vaccination Intentions: The Role of Descriptive Norms, Prototypes, and Physician Gender

Authors: Peterson, Laurel M.; Orr, Jennifer A.; Rogelberg, Sasha D.; Olsen, Nils

Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, DOI: 10.1007/s10865-022-00350-1, September 2022

Type of Publication: Article

Abstract: Men's low HPV vaccination uptake and HPV-related disease incidence are public health issues; gendered social-contextual factors likely play a role. In Study 1, college men (N = 130; M-age = 19.55; white = 58.1%) reported their social cognitions (male-referent descriptive norms and prototypes), self-reliance masculinity ideology, and vaccination intentions. In Study 2, college men (N = 106; M-age = 19.32; white = 61.3%) were randomly assigned to receive HPV vaccination information from a man or woman physician-avatar. Descriptive norms and favorable prototypes (bs >= .337; ps <= .016) were associated with higher HPV vaccination intentions. Men with higher self-reliance masculinity had higher HPV vaccination intentions with a man physician and when they perceived greater vaccination among men (ps <= .035). Men with higher self-reliance masculinity are more sensitive to gendered social-contextual effects in HPV vaccination decision-making. Gendered social-contextual factors should be integrated into public health interventions to increase college men's HPV vaccination uptake.