Social–contextual factors interact with masculinity to influence college men’s HPV vaccination intentions: The role of descriptive norms, prototypes, and physician gender

Abstract

Men’s low HPV vaccination uptake and HPV-related disease incidence are public health issues; gendered social–contextual factors likely play a role. In Study 1, college men (N = 130; M age = 19.55; white = 58.1%) reported their social cognitions (male-referent descriptive norms and prototypes), self-reliance masculinity ideology, and vaccination intentions. In Study 2, college men (N = 106; M age = 19.32; white = 61.3%) were randomly assigned to receive HPV vaccination information from a man or woman physician-avatar. Descriptive norms and favorable prototypes ( b s ≥ .337; p s ≤ .016) were associated with higher HPV vaccination intentions. Men with higher self-reliance masculinity had higher HPV vaccination intentions with a man physician and when they perceived greater vaccination among men ( p s ≤ .035). Men with higher self-reliance masculinity are more sensitive to gendered social–contextual effects in HPV vaccination decision-making. Gendered social–contextual factors should be integrated into public health interventions to increase college men’s HPV vaccination uptake.

HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in Liaocheng men between 2016 and 2022

“…HPV epidemiology varied by race/ethnicity, age at first sexual intercourse, city/urban residence, and sex life [21]. The HPV vaccination rates differed in men because of gender and social background factors [22]. The male HPV infection status of Liaocheng (China) has not been reported as of yet.…”