title: A model of tailoring effects: A randomized controlled trial examining the mechanisms of tailoring in a web-based STD screening intervention.
abstract: This study explores the mechanisms of tailoring within the context of RU@Risk a brief Web-based intervention designed to promote sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing among young adults. This is one of a few studies to empirically examine theorized message processing mechanisms of tailoring and persuasion outcomes in a single model.
  
  
  
  Sexually active college students (N = 1065) completed a pretest, were randomly assigned to explore a tailored or nontailored website, completed a posttest, and were offered the opportunity to order a free at-home STD test kit. As intervention effects were hypothesized to work via increases in perceived risk, change in perceived risk from pretest to posttest by condition was examined. Hypothesized mechanisms of tailoring (perceived personal relevance, attention, and elaboration) were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). All analyses controlled for demographic variables and sexual history.
  
  
  
  As predicted, perceived risk of STDs increased from pretest to posttest, but only in the tailored condition. Results revealed that exposure to the tailored (vs. nontailored) website increased perceived personal relevance, attention to, and elaboration of the message. These effects in turn were associated with greater perceived risk of STDs and intentions to get tested. Additionally, participants in the tailored condition were more likely to order a test kit.
  
  
  
  Findings provide insight into the mechanisms of tailoring with important implications for optimizing message design. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: School of Information, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Mia Liza A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1144-2985
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lustria
authors.affiliation: School of Communication, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Juliann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gerend
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Ying Mai
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.affiliation: Research Computing Center, Florida State University.
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult