Prevent2Protect Project: Regulatory Focus Differences in Sexual Health Knowledge and Practices

Abstract

Individual differences in regulatory focus have been associated with distinct perceptions and behavioral patterns across several domains, including sexual behavior and health. People who are more focused on prevention strive to avoid negative outcomes and enact more risk protective behaviors. In contrast, people who are more focused on promotion strive to attain positive outcomes and take more risks. As part of the Prevent2Protect project (OSF), we conducted a pre-registered online survey (OSF) with Spanish and Portuguese adults (N = 742; Mage = 31.42, SD = 9.16) to examine regulatory focus differences in self-reported STI knowledge and sexual health practices. Results showed that prevention-focused participants had heard about more STIs and retrieved more of their knowledge from scientific sources but had been tested for fewer STIs in the past. In contrast, promotion-focused participants indicated they had specific knowledge about more STIs, retrieved more of their knowledge from medical and peer sources, and had been tested for more STIs in the past. They also reported more frequent STI testing, using free testing facilities or asking their family practice doctor to get tested, more routine sexual health check-ups, and more use of other contraceptive methods such as birth control pills. These results were not moderated by gender. Overall, our findings show how different motives in sexuality determine sexual health beliefs and behaviors.