Abstract
The objectives of this study were (1) to describe perceptions of stress and confidence following genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations and (2) to identify predictors of these processes. Participants were 130 high-risk women affected with cancer who received BRCA1/2 test results. Individual difference characteristics and interpersonal factors were measured by self-report before genetic counseling and perceptions of stress and confidence were evaluated by self-report 1 month following disclosure of test results. BRCA1/2 test results had a significant effect only on perceptions of stress (β = 0.38, p = 0.0001), while trait anxiety had a significant effect on both perceptions of stress (β = 0.44, p = 0.0001) and confidence (β = -0.41, p = 0.001). These results suggest that interventions designed to address perceptions of stress related to medical decision-making and familial concerns may need to be targeted to BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and individuals who are highly anxious.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 373-392 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Journal of Behavioral Medicine |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2004 |
Funding
This research was supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute Grant No. HG01846. We thank study participants for their contribution to this research. We acknowledge Tiffani DeMarco, MS, Barbara Brogan, MS, RN, Elizabeth Hoodfar, MS, CGC, and Danielle Hanna, MS, CGC, for providing genetic counseling to study participants, Camille Corio, MS, for data management, and V. Holland LaSalle, BA, Susan Carey, BA, and Mary Kate Brousseau, BA, for conducting telephone interviews. We thank Scarlett Bellamy, PhD, for assistance with statistical analysis and Wilma Higginbotham for assistance with manuscript preparation.
Keywords
- BRCA1 and BRCA2
- genetic testing
- perceptions of stress and confidence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- General Psychology
