Annesa Flentje, Gowri Sunder, Adam W Carrico, Kesava Asam, Torsten B Neilands, Nadra E Lisha, James Dilley, Elena Flowers, Kord Kober, Bradley Aouizerat
{"title":"Differential gene expression in response to AWARENESS: A randomized controlled trial of an intersectional minority stress intervention.","authors":"Annesa Flentje, Gowri Sunder, Adam W Carrico, Kesava Asam, Torsten B Neilands, Nadra E Lisha, James Dilley, Elena Flowers, Kord Kober, Bradley Aouizerat","doi":"10.1037/hea0001451","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Past correlational research has shown that minority stress has direct and indirect effects on the biology of sexual minority people. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined the potential of AWARENESS, a nine-session cognitive behavioral intervention to reduce intersectional minority stress, to alter gene expression related to immune function, inflammation, and HIV disease progression.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Between 2016 and 2019, 25 sexual minority men living with HIV with recent substance use (n = 12 in AWARENESS and n = 13 in control) were enrolled, a subset with complete gene expression data among the 41 individuals within the parent RCT. Blood samples were taken prior to the intervention, at the 9-week conclusion of the intervention, and at 4 months postrandomization, and leukocyte RNA was sequenced for all samples. The authors examined differential expression analyses of single genes and overrepresentation analysis of gene sets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Neither AWARENESS nor the control condition was related to the differential expression of single genes. Overrepresentation analysis suggested that AWARENESS was related to changes over time in gene expression in leukocyte RNA in 52 gene sets (q < .05), many of which are related to immune function, while the active control condition was related to changes in gene expression among genes in only one gene set. When AWARENESS was compared to the control condition, four gene sets evidenced an overrepresentation of genes reflecting change over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This RCT suggests that AWARENESS is associated with changes in gene expression, primarily focused on changes in genes associated with immune processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"291-296"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11893081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael E Newcomb, Gregory Swann, Elizabeth L Addington, Kathryn Macapagal, Judith T Moskowitz, Elissa L Sarno, Sarah W Whitton, Brian Mustanski
{"title":"Randomized controlled trial of a relationship education and HIV prevention program for young male couples: Biomedical and behavioral outcomes.","authors":"Michael E Newcomb, Gregory Swann, Elizabeth L Addington, Kathryn Macapagal, Judith T Moskowitz, Elissa L Sarno, Sarah W Whitton, Brian Mustanski","doi":"10.1037/hea0001448","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study evaluated the efficacy of the 2GETHER relationship education and HIV prevention program for young male couples in reducing the risk for HIV.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 2GETHER relative to an attention-matched and highly active positive affect enhancement program for couples. We randomized 128 young male couples (N = 256) to 2GETHER or control from 2017 to 2021. Primary biomedical outcome (i.e., rectal chlamydia and gonorrhea) was measured at baseline and 12 months and self-reported condomless anal sex was measured every 3 months across 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were other HIV prevention and risk behaviors, relationship functioning, and substance use. We used multilevel models in MPlus to account for clustering with dyads and within-person change over time. Effects of time (for self-reported outcomes) were modeled using latent growth curves at the between-couple level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We observed no differences between conditions in outcomes, but there was a significant change in outcomes across 12 months. Rates of rectal sexually transmitted infections and self-reported condomless anal sex decreased significantly in both conditions. We also observed significant increases in HIV testing, improvement in relationship communication, and reduction in alcohol-related problems in both conditions across 12 months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Couples in both the 2GETHER and positive affect enhancement programs showed improvement in biomedical and behavioral indicators of HIV risk, as well as improvement in relationship communication, but without a treatment effect we cannot conclude improvement resulted from the interventions. Couple-based programs that promote connectedness, including relationship education and positive affect enhancement, have a strong potential to reduce young couples' HIV risk. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"297-309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ala Koreitem, A Rain Mocello, Jose Luis Gomez, Gustavo Saggese, Torsten Neilands, Maria Amelia de Sousa Mascena Veras, Sheri A Lippman, Jae Sevelius
{"title":"Intersectional discrimination, mental health, and health care access among transgender women in Brazil.","authors":"Ala Koreitem, A Rain Mocello, Jose Luis Gomez, Gustavo Saggese, Torsten Neilands, Maria Amelia de Sousa Mascena Veras, Sheri A Lippman, Jae Sevelius","doi":"10.1037/hea0001447","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001447","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Intersectional discrimination leads to negative health outcomes among transgender (trans) women. To address the need for validated tools to measure experiences of intersectional discrimination, we evaluated the performance of the Intersectional Discrimination Index (InDI) and measured associations with mental health and health care engagement among trans women in São Paulo, Brazil.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Using baseline data from the Manas por Manas randomized controlled trial (n = 392), we characterized participant experiences of intersectional discrimination using the InDI-anticipated (InDI-A), day-to-day (InDI-D), and major (InDI-M) discrimination subscales. We evaluated the validity of the InDI-A using confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability using Cronbach's coefficient alpha (Cα) and explored relationships between each subscale, mental health, and health care engagement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A single-factor solution yielded excellent for InDI-A. All subscales demonstrated good reliability: InDI-A (Cα = .85); InDI-D (lifetime Cα = .84, past-year Cα = .87), InDI-M (lifetime Cα = .78, past-year Cα = .76). A one-unit increase in anticipated discrimination was associated with severe psychological distress, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.57, 2.89], p < .0001, and suicidality (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI [1.08, 1.93], p < .05). Similar patterns emerged for major and day-to-day discrimination. We observed important differences by race. Anticipated discrimination was associated with higher odds of HIV testing (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.08, 1.97], p = .013). Discrimination was not associated with accessing primary care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The InDI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring intersectional discrimination among Brazilian trans women; InDI scores are strongly associated with negative mental health sequelae. Interventions are needed to mitigate structural barriers to care in Brazil, where poor mental health and HIV prevalence are high among trans women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"256-265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11867091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PsychologyPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2025-01-02DOI: 10.1037/hea0001410
Jenna Alley, Jeffrey Gassen, Luis A Parra, Michele D Kipke, Jeremy T Goldbach, Steven W Cole, George M Slavich
{"title":"How community connection, homophobia, and racism shape gene expression in sexual minority men with and without HIV.","authors":"Jenna Alley, Jeffrey Gassen, Luis A Parra, Michele D Kipke, Jeremy T Goldbach, Steven W Cole, George M Slavich","doi":"10.1037/hea0001410","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Although sexual minority men experience substantial discrimination, in addition to increased risk for several serious mental and somatic health problems, the biological mechanisms underlying these effects are unclear. To address this issue, we examined how experiences of social safety (i.e., community connection) and social threat (i.e., discrimination, in the forms of homophobia and racism) were related to conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) gene expression profiles across time, and whether these associations differed across HIV status, in a well-characterized, racially diverse sample of sexual minority men (<i>M</i><sub>age</sub> = 22.61, <i>SD</i> = 1.90).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Experiences of community connection, homophobia, and racism were assessed via self-report, and blood samples were obtained at three timepoints over approximately 2 years. We then used these blood samples to characterize participants' CTRA gene expression, which we quantified using an a priori 53-transcript composite score derived from RNA sequencing data from peripheral blood leukocytes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As hypothesized, greater community connection was significantly related to decreased CTRA gene expression across time. These effects were similar regardless of HIV status and were robust to statistical adjustment for several potential confounding factors. In contrast, neither homophobia nor racism were related to CTRA gene expression.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results suggest that community connection may be a protective factor that reduces biological processes known to negatively impact health. Consequently, interventions and policies aimed at reducing health disparities in marginalized populations may benefit from increasing community connection and inclusion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"176-187"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11872150/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Delaram Ghanooni, Adam W Carrico, Annesa Flentje, Patricia I Moreno, Audrey Harkness, Samantha Dilworth, Savita Pahwa, Suresh Pallikkuth, Seann Regan, Bradley E Aouizerat, Dustin T Duncan
{"title":"Neighborhood-level adversity and inflammation among sexual minority men living with HIV.","authors":"Delaram Ghanooni, Adam W Carrico, Annesa Flentje, Patricia I Moreno, Audrey Harkness, Samantha Dilworth, Savita Pahwa, Suresh Pallikkuth, Seann Regan, Bradley E Aouizerat, Dustin T Duncan","doi":"10.1037/hea0001479","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001479","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This cross-sectional study investigated the associations of neighborhood-level factors with immune activation, systemic inflammation, and leukocyte telomere length in 110 sexual minority men with human immunodeficiency virus.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>From 2013 to 2017, sexual minority men with human immunodeficiency virus who used stimulants were recruited in San Francisco, California and provided blood samples to measure the markers of immune activation, systemic inflammation, and leukocyte telomere length. To measure neighborhood-level indices, the home address for each participant was geocoded and linked to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hierarchical linear modeling was employed to investigate the associations of neighborhood-level factors with systemic inflammation and leukocyte telomere length.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for age, stimulant use, self-reported income, level of education, and race and ethnicity, residing in neighborhoods with greater percentages of poverty (β = .33, p < .001) and a higher proportion of racial/ethnic minority residents (β = .26, p < .05) were independently associated with higher levels of interleukin-6. Additionally, residing in neighborhoods with higher percentage of uninsured individuals was independently associated with higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha (β = .24, p < .05). Indices of neighborhood-level adversity were additionally associated with providing a urine sample that was reactive for stimulants (OR = 1.31, p = .002), which was, in turn, associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (β = -.31, p < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Future longitudinal research should examine the biobehavioral pathways linking neighborhood-level factors and stimulant use with systemic inflammation and cellular aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"188-196"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leah Davis Ewart, Michaela E Larson, Delaram Ghanooni, Rachel Verhagen, Jennifer Manuel, Kathryn McCollister, Erminia Fardone, Britt DeVries, Samantha Dilworth, Makayla Blackstock, Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, Inbal Nahum-Shani, Christian Grov, Adam W Carrico
{"title":"Getting to yes: Pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial of motivational enhancement interventions targeting preexposure prophylaxis use in sexual minority men who use stimulants.","authors":"Leah Davis Ewart, Michaela E Larson, Delaram Ghanooni, Rachel Verhagen, Jennifer Manuel, Kathryn McCollister, Erminia Fardone, Britt DeVries, Samantha Dilworth, Makayla Blackstock, Susanne Doblecki-Lewis, Inbal Nahum-Shani, Christian Grov, Adam W Carrico","doi":"10.1037/hea0001489","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial estimated the feasibility, acceptability, and scalability of telehealth motivational enhancement interventions for optimizing HIV prevention efforts in sexual minority men (SMM) who use stimulants.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Seventy SMM who use stimulants with nonreactive HIV results that were not taking preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were randomized to: (a) a two-session motivational interviewing (MI) intervention focusing on PrEP use and concomitant risk behaviors; or (b) a contingency management (CM) intervention with financial incentives for PrEP clinical evaluation ($50) and filling a PrEP prescription ($50). After 3 months, participants who reported they had not filled a prescription for PrEP were randomized a second time to: (a) switch to a second-stage intervention (i.e., MI + CM); or (b) continue with assessments only.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was a robust engagement in the interventions, which participants described as flexible and nonjudgmental. Participants reported using CM incentives to meet basic needs and indicated that MI sessions improved their understanding of PrEP. The estimated cost of intervention delivery per participant was $404 for MI, $236 for CM, and $475 for MI + CM. Across both randomizations, participants who received CM only were most likely to provide verified evidence of PrEP use over 6 months, and there were potential benefits for reducing concomitant risk behaviors in nonresponders receiving MI + CM. Prior PrEP use and increases in PrEP intentions were significantly associated with verified PrEP use.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although more definitive trials are needed to examine effectiveness, telehealth motivational enhancement interventions are promising, scalable approaches for optimizing HIV prevention among SMM who use stimulants. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"310-320"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristi E Gamarel, Wesley M Correll-King, Laura Jadwin-Cakmak, Julisa Abad, Jay Kaplan, Belinda L Needham, Arjee J Restar
{"title":"Intersectional structural oppression as a fundamental cause: Reflections on implementing a medical-legal partnership project.","authors":"Kristi E Gamarel, Wesley M Correll-King, Laura Jadwin-Cakmak, Julisa Abad, Jay Kaplan, Belinda L Needham, Arjee J Restar","doi":"10.1037/hea0001421","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001421","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Intersectional and structural intervention approaches are critical to addressing health inequities experienced by transgender and gender diverse (trans) populations. In this commentary, we reflect on the implementation of a community-led, medical-legal partnership project designed to address barriers to legal gender affirmation and improve health outcomes for trans women of color with criminal records in Detroit.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We initiated a partnership between a community health center and legal advocacy organization to address the health-harming legal needs of five trans women of color with criminal records via attorney support and financial assistance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We enrolled four participants, and two received legal name changes. Our low success rate was largely because of legal costs that far exceeded our expectations and resources. These costs stemmed from compounding monetary sanctions participants received for low-level vehicular civil infractions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our implementation of this intervention revealed structural intersectional oppression in action. Monetary sanctions interact with Michigan name change policies requiring court appearances for applicants with criminal records, creating nearly insurmountable barriers to legal gender affirmation for economically vulnerable communities subjected to racism and cissexism. Building intersectional structural competency inclusive of legal literacy via multisectoral collaborations between diverse legal and policy experts, community members, and academic researchers is critical to developing interventions to address structural determinants of trans health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"285-290"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Linking stressful experiences to health disparities among sexual and gender minority individuals: The sleep deficiency pathway.","authors":"Charlotte J Patterson","doi":"10.1037/hea0001484","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001484","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is well documented that sexual and gender minority people encounter stressful experiences such as family relationship problems and even physical violence more often than do heterosexual people. The causal roles of such stressful experiences in sleep deficiency and of sleep deficiency in mental and physical health are also well documented. That sexual and gender minority individuals suffer multiple health disparities has also been established. What is not yet well understood is how these variables might be linked. This article explores what is called the \"sleep deficiency pathway\"-that is, that sleep deficiencies which can be caused by and/or exacerbated by minority stress may in turn contribute to significant health disparities experienced by sexual and gender minority people. If sleep deficiency is an important pathway from adverse experiences to health disparities, the use of effective treatments for sleep deficiencies could improve sleep quantity and/or quality, and in this way, enable better health among sexual and gender minority individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"207-210"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristi E Gamarel, Dustin T Duncan, Brian Mustanski, Adam Carrico
{"title":"Envisioning a bright and affirming future for sexual and gender minority health research.","authors":"Kristi E Gamarel, Dustin T Duncan, Brian Mustanski, Adam Carrico","doi":"10.1037/hea0001492","DOIUrl":"10.1037/hea0001492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This is an introduction to the special issue \"Sexual and Gender Minority Health Inequities: A Focus on Mechanisms, Interventions, and Implementation.\" The article addresses current challenges and knowledge gaps, methodological approaches to SGM health research, developing and implementing effective interventions, and future directions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":"44 3","pages":"171-175"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143494747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John D Dimoff, Andillon Del Pesco, Gina M DiLuzio, Daniel Perkins, Ahrianna Keefe, Francesca N Folio
{"title":"Need for closure moderates the relationship between social circle's and own influenza vaccination behavior in a two-wave survey of U.S. adults.","authors":"John D Dimoff, Andillon Del Pesco, Gina M DiLuzio, Daniel Perkins, Ahrianna Keefe, Francesca N Folio","doi":"10.1037/hea0001467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Social norms predict flu vaccination uptake. Social norms are also a shared reality phenomenon that may have epistemic underpinnings, although this possibility has not yet been tested. We examined whether the relationship between perceived social circle vaccine coverage and own vaccination behavior depends on one's need for closure (NFC), or discomfort with uncertainty.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We recruited a national sample of 300 participants to complete a pair of brief online surveys, the first of which was administered in September 2021 (Wave 1) and the second of which was administered in November 2021 (Wave 2). Participants estimated their social circle's vaccination behavior for the 2020-2021 flu season and reported their own vaccination behavior for the 2021-2022 flu season. Participants also completed a measure of dispositional NFC, along with other measures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Social circle vaccine coverage reported at Wave 1 predicted participants' vaccination behavior reported at Wave 2, and this relationship was moderated by the NFC. As hypothesized, participants with a high NFC were more likely to adhere to their social circles' vaccination norms, as compared to participants with a moderate or low NFC. Additional analyses were conducted to explore other relevant associations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings suggest that people's perception of their social circle's vaccination history interacts with their own desire for certainty in the process they use to make vaccination decisions. This raises the possibility that interventions should promote positive social norms and induce epistemic motivations in tandem to promote vaccine uptake. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":55066,"journal":{"name":"Health Psychology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143442962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}