Research has shown that organised and effective cervical screening programmes can save lives. The present research was undertaken to detect some of the cognitive and emotional factors that might affect the probability that women respond to invitations for cervical screening. Based on an analysis of the literature on compliance behaviour, it has been hypothesized that there are differences in attitudes and beliefs of women who comply to cervical smear tests (CST) in comparison to those who do not comply, and that women with a positive self-image are more likely to comply to health screening than women with a less positive self-image. Two methods were used to test these hypotheses. A computerized version of Osgood's semantic differential and a structured personal questionnaire. The semantic differential was administered to 57 responders and 43 nonresponders to invitations for a CST. These women were individually interviewed in their homes. Twenty-six concepts pertaining to emotional, social, parental, and health-related domains were tested. This test was followed-up by a structured personal questionnaire. The results indicated that fear, worry, and embarrassment were negatively correlated with the decision to have a CST. The concepts fear and worry correlated significantly with cancer and CST for nonresponders, whereas for the responders only fear and cancer were significantly correlated, thus indicating that the nonresponders consider the CST as a test to detect cancer rather than as a preventive measure. Responders appeared to have a higher self-esteem and a better relationship with their husbands; whereas, nonresponders seemed to be women whose life revolves primarily around the family. Suggestions for effective persuasion for preventive health behaviour could be formulated on the basis of these results. Implications for health promotion and improvements in doctor-patient interactions are also discussed.