title: Genetic susceptibility testing from a stress and coping perspective.
abstract: Four theories of health behavior and of stress and coping are reviewed for their ability to illuminate interest in uptake and outcomes of genetic testing for adult-onset diseases. These theories are the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Common Sense Model of Self-regulation (CSM), and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC). Basic concepts of each theory are discussed, followed by evidence from the literature supporting the relevance of these concepts to the understanding of genetic testing for four adult-onset diseases: Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, and hereditary colorectal cancer. Emphasis is placed on the finding that a decision to undergo genetic testing may be considered as a way to cope with both the cognitive and affective concerns that arise from living at increased risk of developing a disease in the future. The potential value of genetic testing for reducing uncertainty about and gaining a sense of control over one's risk of developing a chronic disease is highlighted. We argue that theories which focus on stress and coping provide a useful framework for future studies of genetic testing decisions for adult-onset disease risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, 570 University Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1190, USA. holly.godding@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Holly C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gooding
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Organista
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burack
authors.forename: Barbara Bowles
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Biesecker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States