Behavioral immune system linked to responses to the threat of COVID-19.

People possess psychological processes that help them avoid pathogens, which is particularly important when novel infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19) spread through the population.

Understanding women's hesitancy to undergo less frequent cervical cancer screening.

Inappropriate cervical cancer screening (e.g., screening too often) can result in unnecessary medical procedures, treatment, and psychological distress.

When Different Message Frames Motivate Different Routes to the Same Health Outcome.

Background: Message framing is an effective strategy for promoting health behavior.

Purpose: We examined the relative effectiveness of framed messages that simultaneously promoted two different health behaviors-eating a calcium-rich diet and taking calcium supplements-for preventing osteoporosis. Because those behaviors are associated with different perceptions of risk, we predicted that gain- and loss-framed messages would have opposite effects.

Predictors of provider recommendation for HPV vaccine among young adult men and women: findings from a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Although physician recommendation is one of the strongest predictors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, it is unclear for whom physicians are recommending the vaccine. To help guide intervention efforts, this study investigated predictors of participant-reported physician recommendation for HPV vaccine among young adults in the USA.

Methods: Women and men (N=223) aged 18-26 years were recruited online through Craigslist, a popular classified advertisements website.

The blame game: cervical cancer, knowledge of its link to human papillomavirus and stigma.

This two-study paper examined stigma toward women with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI). For Study 1, participants (N = 352) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions in which they read a brief description of a patient with either cervical or ovarian cancer in which the cause of the patient's cancer was either specified (cervical: HPV, a STI vs.

Increasing human papillomavirus vaccine acceptability by tailoring messages to young adult women's perceived barriers.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a safe and effective primary prevention strategy for cervical cancer. Despite the need for effective HPV vaccination interventions, relatively few have been tested. Moreover, existing interventions have tended to use a one-size-fits-all educational approach.

Message framing, it does a body good: effects of message framing and motivational orientation on young women's calcium consumption.

We investigated the effects of gain-framed versus loss-framed messages and motivational orientation on calcium consumption. After completing a motivational orientation scale (behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system), undergraduate women (N = 141) were randomly assigned to read a gain-framed or loss-framed pamphlet promoting calcium consumption. Calcium consumption was assessed 1 month later.

The multidimensional nature of perceived barriers: global versus practical barriers to HPV vaccination.

Objective: Perceived barriers are one of the strongest determinants of health behavior. The current study presents a novel conceptualization of perceived barriers by testing the following hypotheses: (a) perceived barriers are multidimensional and thus should cluster into distinct factors; (b) practical barriers should be salient for individuals intending to engage in a particular health behavior, whereas global barriers should be salient for individuals not intending to enact the behavior; and (c) whereas global barriers should be negatively associated with behavioral intentions, practical barriers should be positively related to intentions.

Methods: The context for this investigation was young adult women's perceived barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.