Information Work with Friends Experiencing an Intimate Health Concern

This study examined whether college students' expertise and communication competence affect the information provision work they provide to a friend experiencing an intimate health concern. Survey results indicated that students (N = 397) with personal experience with the intimate health concern (i.e., contraception, STIs, pregnancy) provided more information compared to those with similar or no experience. Further, those with greater communication competence provided more information compared to those with less communication competence. A three-way interaction effect emerged for participants that provided information for a contraception concern, but no interaction effects emerged for participants that provided information for a STI or pregnancy concern.