title: Illness representations of type 2 diabetes patients are associated with perceptions of diabetes threat in relatives.
abstract: In the fight against the type 2 diabetes epidemic, patients might be asked to discuss familial susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in their family. Illness representations of patients (N = 546) were assessed to explore their impact on perceived type 2 diabetes threat in relatives. Reporting high type 2 diabetes burden, emotional impact and perceiving type 2 diabetes as an inheritable disease seemed to increase patients' family risk perception and worries about relatives' future health. Patients with coherent illness understanding reported positive beliefs regarding type 2 diabetes prevention in relatives. Findings may give direction in how illness representations may be used to guide patients in the process of family risk disclosure.
authors: VU University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors: Suzanne C M
authors: SC
authors: van Esch
authors: Marjan D
authors: MD
authors: Nijkamp
authors: Martina C
authors: MC
authors: Cornel
authors: Frank J
authors: FJ
authors: Snoek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk
keywords: beliefs; chronic illness; family; health promotion; risk estimation