245308 Gender Differences in Negative Emotional Responses and HPV-Related Stigma after HPV Testing

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Ellen Daley, PhD , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Natalie D. Hernandez, MPH , College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Erica Hesch Anstey, MA, CLC , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie L. Marhefka, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Christopher Wheldon, MSPH, MEd , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Elizabeth Baker, MPH, CPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Judith Syfrett, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie Kolar, MSPH , Department of Epidemiology, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Cheryl Vamos, PhD, MPH , Brant County Health Unit, Brantford, ON, Canada
Background: Women and men in the U.S. experience high rates of HPV, yet little is known about differences in emotional responses to HPV infection.

Purpose: To examine gender differences in psychosocial responses to HPV test results.

Methods: As part of a natural history study of HPV in men, psychosocial responses to receiving an HPV-positive test were obtained, and compared to a similar study with women prior to the release of the HPV vaccine. Chi-square tests identified gender differences in negative emotional responses and stigma. Cumulative logit models were used to assess gender effects on negative emotions/stigma controlling for demographics.

Results: There were significant differences (p<.05) between women and men in their feelings of anger (70% vs 21%), worry (94% vs 62%), confusion (71%vs36%), depression (52%vs25%), and shock (70%vs33%). Similarly, women reported more stigma-related feelings: shame (68%vs56%), feeling judged (71%vs33%), and feeling like they were paying for past behaviors (68%vs52%). Women and men similarly reported feeling unclean (59%vs61%), guilty (66%vs64%), and that telling others about their HPV-status would be risky (60%vs51%). After adjusting for demographics, women had greater odds of reporting more negative emotions (OR=7.99, 95%CI:5.00-12.76) and feelings of stigma (OR=1.53, 95%CI:1.01-2.32).

Conclusions: Significant gender differences in emotional responses to HPV are indicative of the double-standard existing between women and men's sex roles. Sexual permissiveness, more socially acceptable for men than women, and increased awareness of HPV and cervical cancer may likely influence psychosocial differences related to HPV. Future research should explore issues to better understand vaccine intentions and uptake behaviors.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. To identify differences in emotional responses and HPV-related stigma to an HPV test result among females and males. 2. To discuss factors that can inform development of public health initiatives to decrease feelings of stigma and shame and increase HPV vaccination rates among women and men.

Keywords: Women, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked on this research project and analyzed these data
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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