The Effect of Autobiographical Memory Sharing on Intent and Trust in the Healthcare System

The lack of diverse communication techniques contributes to low levels of health literacy in the United States. Narrative health messages, such as personal stories, offer a potential solution to promote health behaviors. Autobiographical memory literature suggests personal memories play important social and behavioral functions in our daily lives. This online study included 131 female participants aged 18–30, the population most heavily impacted by human papillomavirus (HPV). Participants were randomly assigned to watch either a peer sharing a personal HPV experience (autobiographical memory sharing condition) or a peer presenting only factual information (factual-only condition). After viewing, participants answered questionnaires evaluating vaccination intentions and trust in the healthcare system. Data was collected from January to March 2026. It is expected that autobiographical storytelling increased both trust in the healthcare system and intentions regarding the HPV vaccine.