title: Psychosocial factors associated with quality of life among individuals attending genetic counseling for hereditary cancer.
abstract: The aim of this multicenter study was to explore associations between psychosocial factors (general self-efficacy, perceived availability of social support, cancer-related distress) and health-related quality of life, among individuals at risk for hereditary cancer. One-hundred and twenty one participants with a family history of breast-cancer or colorectal cancer answered a questionnaire 2-4 weeks prior to genetic counseling. The two dimensions of the health-related quality of life measure, mental and physical health were both used as outcome variables. Multiple regression (linear) analyses revealed that increasing degrees of cancer-related distress was related to decreasing degrees of mental health whereas increasing degrees of self-efficacy and social support were related to increasing degrees of this outcome variable. Self-efficacy, self-esteem support and tangible aid seemed to moderate the relationship between cancer-related distress and mental health. These results suggest that self-efficacy and certain resources of social support buffer the negative association between cancer-related distress and mental health, and might be suitable for interventional efforts. Implications for genetic counseling practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Nursing Science, Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Norway. anniken.carlsson@stolav.no
authors.forename: Anniken Hamang
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bjorvatn
authors.forename: Lars Fredrik
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Engebretsen
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.forename: Gerd Karin
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Natvig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support