Research Study on Disclosure [Positive news!]

[gardeniaflower]

Hello!

 

Don't know if this has been shared before, but I ran into this study that someone posted on another forum. It gives some positive insight on disclosing you have H!

 

TITLE: Individual and Partner Characteristics Associated with Genital Herpes Disclosure and the Relationship between Disclosure Outcomes,Rejection, and Future Intentions to Disclose" (January 2014)

LINK: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6477&context=etd

 

A summary of the findings:

 

"Despite the majority of individuals expecting a partner to react somewhat negatively after a disclosure, the overwhelming majority of individuals reported a more positive reaction than expected. This indicates that individuals may not be able to accurately assess potential partner responses. On the other hand, those who did not decide to disclose were more likely to report that their partner would react VERY negatively than those who did disclose. Half of non-disclosers at last sex had successfully disclosed in the past.

 

This may mean that their past partner gave signs and signals that indicated he or she would be more receptive to this type of disclosure. Findings from prior herpes and HIV disclosure literature find that individuals often test the waters to see how a romantic or sexual partner might respond prior to disclosure (Derlega et al., 2004; Green et al., 2003). This would support the idea that individuals with genital herpes are good at assessing who might react in a very negative way, including a rejection, and therefore protect themselves from this type of response by not disclosing. In order to better understand whether individuals with genital herpes are able to accurately assess the risk of disclosure, future research is needed.

 

Furthermore, it is important to understand what would constitute a negative partner response and what a rejection would look like, as most people indicated a more positive reaction than expected. As over 95% of the sample who disclosed reported a neutral to very positive partner response and non-rejection, future research should better capture what types of responses would exemplify these negative outcomes, in order to assess whether or not they are real or exacerbated negative expectations and to help form health education messages about realistic partner reactions."

 

[Ashley]

This is very interesting! Thanks for posting :)

[gardeniaflower]

@Ashley

Thought so too! Just goes to show how disproportionate our fears of rejection may actually be. Did you disclose to your guy yet?

[WCSDancer2010]

I think I may have seen this before ... but it just supports my Wingman theory regarding this part:

 

This may mean that their past partner gave signs and signals that indicated he or she would be more receptive to this type of disclosure. Findings from prior herpes and HIV disclosure literature find that individuals often test the waters to see how a romantic or sexual partner might respond prior to disclosure (Derlega et al., 2004; Green et al., 2003). This would support the idea that individuals with genital herpes are good at assessing who might react in a very negative way, including a rejection, and therefore protect themselves from this type of response by not disclosing.

 

IE ... we with Herpes get to KNOW the person better before we disclose, and walk away from anyone who does not have a compassionate nature ;)

[Ashley]

@gardeniaflower I haven't disclosed yet but that's only because it's long distance and I haven't seen him. Reading this made it less scary though, so thank you again! I'll let you know what happens!