A model of disease-specific worry in heritable disease: the influence of family history, perceived risk and worry about other illnesses.
Disease-related worry is associated with family history and perceived risk of that disease; however, the influences of general risk perceptions and tendencies to worry about diseases have been neglected in the literature. This study investigates a model of disease-specific worry which includes family history, disease-specific perceived risk, and perceived risk for and worry about other diseases. Participants completed a survey assessing these variables in relation to several heritable diseases. Structural equation modeling found that family history predicted disease-specific perceived risk but not perceived risk for other diseases. Disease-specific perceived risk predicted disease-specific worry and worry about other diseases. Perceived risk for other diseases predicted worry about other diseases and disease-specific perceived risk but not disease-specific worry. Disease-specific worry predicted worry about other diseases. This model was supported across several diseases and indicates that disease-specific and general considerations of risk influence worry about a disease and should be considered in interventions.
DiLorenzo
Terry A
TA
Department of Psychology, Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University, New York, USA.
Schnur
Julie
J
Montgomery
Guy H
GH
Erblich
Joel
J
Winkel
Gary
G
Bovbjerg
Dana H
DH
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires