This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hullett, C. R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Using Functional Theory to Promote Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Testing

The Impact of Value-Expressive Messages and Guilt

Communication Arts Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This article reports two studies testing the use of the functional theory of attitudes and arousal of guilt in motivating college students to get tested for genital herpes and chlamydia. Value-expressive appeals to get tested for the benevolent purpose of protecting sexual partners could be effective if that goal is desired by message targets who are sexually active and unaware of their sexually transmitted disease status. The appeals’ effectiveness is increased by the arousal of guilt in response to the recognition that failing to get tested is a violation of that value. A model detailing the mediating processes is found to be consistent with the data across two studies. Study 1 found that value-expressive messages tying the importance of getting tested for herpes to the goal of protecting the health of sexual partners is related to increased intentions toward getting tested; being healthy oneself is additional motivation for chlamydia in Study 2.

Key Words: attitude function • sexually transmitted disease • guilt • values

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?