New research co-authored by Mary Gerend, Ph.D., selected as an Editor’s Choice for the November 2025 issue of Health Psychology, finds that cancer survivor stories increase parents’ intentions to vaccinate their children against human papillomavirus (HPV). In a national online experiment, 948 U.S. parents of unvaccinated children ages 9 to 17 watched one of four videos—including a fact-based informational message and three narrative videos featuring a role model, a precancer survivor, or a cancer survivor. Parents who viewed the cancer survivor story reported significantly higher vaccination intentions, even after accounting for factors like child age, income, and prior vaccine refusal. The effect is driven by stronger emotional engagement, suggesting survivor narratives may be a promising way to improve HPV vaccination rates.