title: Predictors of the Sexual Well-being of Individuals Diagnosed with Herpes and Human Papillomavirus.
abstract: Research suggests that having a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) can negatively affect sexual well-being. However, there is little research examining factors associated with poorer sexual well-being among individuals with a STI. This study investigated the extent to which stigma experiences, individual characteristics, and STI characteristics were associated with multiple aspects of sexual well-being among individuals diagnosed with herpes and/or HPV. Participants were an average of 36 years old (SD = 11.58) and included 188 individuals with herpes and/or HPV who completed measures of sexual activity, sexual problems, and sexual cognitive-affective factors. The results showed that experiences of stigmatization were the most important predictors of sexual well-being. Participants who perceived were stigmatized by others as well as those who internalized negative social attitudes to a greater extent reported poorer sexual well-being across all dimensions, over and above individual and STI characteristics. The implications of these findings for sexual health professionals are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada.
authors.forename: Lyndsay R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada. byers@unb.ca.
authors.forename: E Sandra
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gender; Herpes; Human papillomavirus; Sexual well-being; Stigma