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Article
Investigating Initial Disclosures and Reactions to Unexpected, Positive HPV Diagnosis
Western Journal of Communication (2014)
  • Rachel A. Smith
  • Rachael Hernandez
  • Danielle Catona, Ph.D., Seton Hall University
Abstract
Initial disclosures of health conditions are critical communication moments. Existing research focuses on disclosers; integrating confidants into studies of initial disclosures is needed. Guided by the disclosure decision-making model (DD-MM; Greene, 2009), this study examined what diagnosed persons and confidants may say when faced with unexpected test results and unexpected disclosures, respectively. Participants (N = 151) recorded an audiovisual message for another person, after imagining that they or the other person had just received unexpected, positive HPV test results. The qualitative analysis revealed four themes: (1) impression management and social distance, (2) invisible symptoms and advice regarding future disclosures, (3) expressing and acknowledging emotional reactions, and (4) misunderstandings and lacking knowledge about HPV. These findings suggested that DD-MM may be a relevant framework for understanding not only when disclosers share, but what disclosers and confidants say in early conversations about new diagnoses. While disclosers' and confidants' messages showed marked similarities, important differences appeared. For example, confidants focused on assuaging disclosers' fear about the consequences, whereas disclosers expressed distress related to their uncertainty about the prognosis of an HPV infection and how to prepare for next steps. The discussion highlighted implications for the DD-MM, HPV disclosures, and future interventions.
Keywords
  • Confidants,
  • Decision-Making,
  • Disclosure,
  • HPV,
  • Sexually Transmitted Infection,
  • Stigma
Disciplines
Publication Date
2014
DOI
10.1080/10570314.2013.786120
Citation Information
Rachel A. Smith, Rachael Hernandez and Danielle Catona. "Investigating Initial Disclosures and Reactions to Unexpected, Positive HPV Diagnosis" Western Journal of Communication Vol. 78 Iss. 4 (2014) p. 426 - 440
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/danielle-catona/6/