The relationship between social norms and sexual risk-reduction intentions and behavior among men who have sex with men: Findings from an eHealth intervention

Psychol Addict Behav. 2019 Jun;33(4):382-391. doi: 10.1037/adb0000467. Epub 2019 May 9.

Abstract

Normative-based research has found that norms are significant predictors of safe sex behavioral intentions and behavior. Research shows that group identity moderates the relationship between norms and intentions/behavior. The present study used the theory of normative social behavior to evaluate whether identification with characters in an HIV-prevention interactive video moderated the relationship between sexual risk-taking norms and risk reduction intentions/behavior. Participants included 540 men between the ages 18 and 30 enrolled in a randomized controlled trial with a 3-month follow-up. We found support for the hypothesized interaction. At low levels of character identification, the negative relationship between sexual risk-taking norms and risk reduction intentions was strong. However, as character identification increased, the link between norms and intentions became weaker. The mean intentions score of high-risk norm participants was elevated to the level reported by low risk norm participants, demonstrating the favorable effect of character identification on narrative persuasion in entertainment-education. The utility of a social norms approach to health behavior change is discussed in the context of eHealth interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Behavior*
  • Homosexuality, Male / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Intention*
  • Male
  • Risk Reduction Behavior*
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities / psychology*
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Norms*
  • Telemedicine
  • Young Adult