A Model of Disease-specific Worry in Heritable Disease: the Influence of Family History, Perceived Risk and Worry About Other Illnesses

Overview

Journal J Behav Med

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2006 Feb 14

PMID 16470344

Citations 35

Authors

Terry A DiLorenzo

Julie Schnur

Guy H Montgomery

Joel Erblich

Gary Winkel

Dana H Bovbjerg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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.

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