title: Personality traits as predictors of intentions to seek online information about STDs and HIV/AIDS among junior and senior college students in Taiwan.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine how personality traits such as sensation- seeking and impulsive decision-making affect Taiwanese college students' intentions to seek online information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Five hundred thirty-five (n = 535) junior and senior college students in Taiwan were recruited and completed self-report questionnaires. This study found high sensation-seekers were more likely to seek information about STDs and HIV/AIDS on the Internet than low sensation-seekers. Impulsive decision-makers were less likely than rational decision-makers to seek information about STDs and HIV/AIDS on the Internet. These findings suggest that personality needs to be considered as an exploratory factor which potentially influences intentions to seek STD and HIV/AIDS information on the Internet among Taiwanese college students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication and Graduate Institute of Telecommunications, National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan. stevelutw@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Palmgreen
authors.forename: Rick S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D007255:Information Services; D033182:Intention; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012736:Sex Education; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan