April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: The Interplay of Trust and Emotions: Examining Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk Perceptions Among Women Who Have Sex With Women
Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) rates among women who have sex with women (WSW) have been increasing in recent years (CDC, 2017). Yet, the risk of getting an STI among WSW is still presented as “rare” (CDC, 2022; Chan, 2014). The use of protection during sexual intercourse is important but many WSW think that they offer little benefit, especially if their partner is also assigned female at birth (Marrazzo et al., 2005). Protection use is thus misconstrued as only functioning to prevent pregnancies. Emotions have also been shown to play an important role in risk communication, yet it is not often considered in studies relating to sexual health (Sjöberg, 2007). We draw on the Health Belief Model to understand why individuals fail to adopt recommended health suggestions (Rosenstock, 1974) and extend upon current understanding of the role of emotions in risk-related decisions.
Participants were recruited through email to universities rated high in inclusivity and through Reddit. Five qualitative focus group (N = 20) were conducted via Zoom, lasting between 43 and 67 minutes. Transcription totaled 54 single-spaced pages in Microsoft Word. All participants were assigned female at birth and identify as women. 55% of our sample identified as bisexual and 45% as lesbian. A majority of our sample were Black or African/African.
Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) is ongoing, but we present preliminary themes here. First, participants viewed protection use with women as unnecessary, and trust was a huge determinant in using protection or not, including getting tested. A participant shared, “You should trust your partner. Because if you don’t trust, you have to take preventive measures.” Secondly, getting tested is of greater importance instead, and many thought that it offered protection as well. For example, one participant shared “You're not going to wear a condom to get fingered... that's why I feel like screening is more important because with screening, you're 80% to 90% safe.” The final theme highlights the role of emotions in risk perceptions. A participant shared, “The conversations that I had before having sex [with a woman] have more to do with establishing some sort of like emotional [connection]...like that's kind of more priority, more than like STIs. I haven't really been super worried about [STIs]... I don't think I've ever asked a female partner if they've been tested.” Our findings were consistent with past research and demonstrated that sexual health decisions are dependent on a variety of factors. However, what was novel in our data was that developing a deep emotional connection with their partners overruled other influences. Participants tended to feel safer and more fulfilled with women partners, leading to greater trust especially in monogamous relationships. Trust and emotions thus interplayed in influencing participants’ sexual behavior decisions and suggests an alternative approach in understanding how WSW perceive the risks of STIs. Findings contribute both theoretically and practically to understanding how WSW perceive sexual health risk. Final findings will be presented, offering insights to a community that is often underrepresented in research.
Participants were recruited through email to universities rated high in inclusivity and through Reddit. Five qualitative focus group (N = 20) were conducted via Zoom, lasting between 43 and 67 minutes. Transcription totaled 54 single-spaced pages in Microsoft Word. All participants were assigned female at birth and identify as women. 55% of our sample identified as bisexual and 45% as lesbian. A majority of our sample were Black or African/African.
Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) is ongoing, but we present preliminary themes here. First, participants viewed protection use with women as unnecessary, and trust was a huge determinant in using protection or not, including getting tested. A participant shared, “You should trust your partner. Because if you don’t trust, you have to take preventive measures.” Secondly, getting tested is of greater importance instead, and many thought that it offered protection as well. For example, one participant shared “You're not going to wear a condom to get fingered... that's why I feel like screening is more important because with screening, you're 80% to 90% safe.” The final theme highlights the role of emotions in risk perceptions. A participant shared, “The conversations that I had before having sex [with a woman] have more to do with establishing some sort of like emotional [connection]...like that's kind of more priority, more than like STIs. I haven't really been super worried about [STIs]... I don't think I've ever asked a female partner if they've been tested.” Our findings were consistent with past research and demonstrated that sexual health decisions are dependent on a variety of factors. However, what was novel in our data was that developing a deep emotional connection with their partners overruled other influences. Participants tended to feel safer and more fulfilled with women partners, leading to greater trust especially in monogamous relationships. Trust and emotions thus interplayed in influencing participants’ sexual behavior decisions and suggests an alternative approach in understanding how WSW perceive the risks of STIs. Findings contribute both theoretically and practically to understanding how WSW perceive sexual health risk. Final findings will be presented, offering insights to a community that is often underrepresented in research.