Multifactorial beliefs about the role of genetics and behavior in common health conditions: prevalence and associations with participant characteristics and engagement in health behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
Many common health conditions arise due to a combination of genetic factors and lifestyle-related behaviors. People's understanding of the multifactorial nature of health conditions has implications for their receptivity to health messages regarding genomics and medicine, and may be related to their adoption of protective health behaviors. Although past work has investigated aspects of either genetic or behavioral causal beliefs, multifactorial beliefs have not been evaluated systematically.


METHODS
Utilizing nationally representative cross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey, we examined the prevalence of multifactorial beliefs regarding the etiology of cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, as well as associations between such beliefs and demographic, health history, and health behavior variables in the US population.


RESULTS
Among 3,630 participants, the vast majority (64.2-78.6%) endorsed multifactorial beliefs. The number of statistically significant associations was limited. Trends suggest that endorsement of multifactorial beliefs may differ by demographic and health history characteristics. Beliefs about the multifactorial etiology of cancer were associated with cancer screening behaviors. Multifactorial beliefs about other common health conditions were associated with few health promotion behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings and recommendations for future research provide preliminary guidance for developing and targeting genomics-related health messages and communications.
Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Erika A
EA
Waters
Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Jaclyn
J
Muff
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Jada G
JG
Hamilton
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics; D015438:Health Behavior; D058015:Health Communication; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States