title: Dispositional motivations and genetic risk feedback.
abstract: This study examined interest in genetic testing for lung cancer susceptibility among college students, a group whose smoking rates have increased significantly in the last decade. Sixteen smokers who participated in focus group discussions indicated a generally high level of interest in testing. They also indicated that knowledge of genetic susceptibility would make them feel anxious and motivate them to quit smoking. The study also examined, in a separate sample of undergraduate smokers (n=186), whether these outcomes depend on personality differences in threat sensitivity-responsiveness of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS)--and reward sensitivity--responsiveness of the behavioral activation system (BAS). Smokers completed measures of personality and risk perceptions at baseline and rated risk perceptions, affect, and likelihood of changing smoking behavior in response to 2 hypothetical risk feedback scenarios (high vs. low risk). Smokers higher in reward sensitivity (reward responsiveness) evidenced greater interest in taking genetic tests. If a test indicated elevated risk smokers higher in reward responsiveness would perceive themselves at increased risk and attempt to quit smoking. Threat sensitive smokers would react with greater negative affect. Overall, results indicate that genetic biomarker feedback is a motivator for college student smokers to quit and would be more effective among smokers high in reward sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, United States. Johann.Westmaas@sunysb.edu
authors.forename: J Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Westmaas
authors.forename: Patricia Butler
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Woicik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers