The role of anticipated regret and health beliefs in HPV vaccination intentions among young adults

• Published in: Journal of behavioral medicine Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 429 - 440
• Main Authors: Christy, Shannon M., Winger, Joseph G., Raffanello, Elizabeth W., Halpern, Leslie F., Danoff-Burg, Sharon, Mosher, Catherine E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anticipation, Psychological; Cancer; Cancer vaccines; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Decision making; Development and progression; Emotions; Expectations; Family Medicine; Female; General Practice; Health Behavior; Health belief model; Health beliefs; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Psychology; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Immunization; Intention; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Patient outcomes; Regret; Risk perception; Severity; Sexually transmitted diseases; Undergraduate students; Vaccination; Vaccination - psychology; Vaccines; Variables; Warts; Young Adult; Young adults; United States; United States > US; Indianapolis Indiana; Health Belief Model; Human papillomavirus vaccination; Sexual health; Anticipated regret; Health behavior
• ISSN: 0160-7715; 1573-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/s10865-016-9716-z

Although cognitions have predicted young adults’ human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine decision-making, emotion-based theories of healthcare decision-making suggest that anticipatory emotions may be more predictive. This study examined whether anticipated regret was associated with young adults’ intentions to receive the HPV vaccine above and beyond the effects of commonly studied cognitions. Unvaccinated undergraduates ( N  = 233) completed a survey assessing Health Belief Model (HBM) variables (i.e., perceived severity of HPV-related diseases, perceived risk of developing these diseases, and perceived benefits of HPV vaccination), anticipatory emotions (i.e., anticipated regret if one were unvaccinated and later developed genital warts or HPV-related cancer), and HPV vaccine intentions. Anticipated regret was associated with HPV vaccine intentions above and beyond the effects of HBM variables among men. Among women, neither anticipated regret nor HBM variables showed consistent associations with HPV vaccine intentions. Findings suggest that anticipatory emotions should be considered when designing interventions to increase HPV vaccination among college men.