Skip to main content
Log in

Predictive genetic testing: Mediators and moderators of anxiety

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mediators and moderators of anxiety following predictive genetic testing were investigated in a cross-sectional study of 208 individuals at risk for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Receiving a positive test result was associated with increased anxiety. The relationship between test result and anxiety was mediated by how threatened individuals felt by their test results. The impact of a positive test result was greater for those who felt distressed about FAP in their families, perceived FAP to be more serious, and perceived the genetic test to be more accurate. The results suggest that assessing, and possibly modifying, people’s appraisals of the condition and of its impact on the family and of the threat of the genetic test may help to reduce subsequent anxiety. This has implications for the practice of genetic counseling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinctioninsocial psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Broadstock, M., Michie, S., & Marteau, T. M. (2000). The psychological consequences of predictive genetic testing: A systematic review. European Journal of Human Genetics, 8, 731–738.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croyle, R. T., Achilles, J. S., & Lerman, C. (1997). Psychological aspects of cancer genetic testing: Are-search update for clinicians. Cancer Supplement, 80, 569–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croyle, R. T., & Lerman, C. (1995). Psychological impact of genetic testing. In Robert T. Croyle et al. (Ed.), Psychosocial effects of screening for disease prevention and detection (pp. 11–38). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Croyle, R. T., & Sande, G. N. (1988). Denial and confirmatory search: Paradoxical consequences of medical diagnosis. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 18, 473–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croyle, R. T., Sun, Y.-C., & Louie, D. H. (1993). Psychological minimisation of cholesterol test results: moderators of appraisal in college students and community residents. Health Psychology, 12, 503–507.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ditto, P. H., & Lopez, D. F. (1992). Motivated skepticism: The use of differential decision criteria for preferred and nonpreferred conclusions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 568–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, M., Wilner, N., & Alvarez, W. (1979). Impact of Event scale: A measure of subjective stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 41, 209–218.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jaccard, J., Turrisi, R., & Wal, C. K. (1990). Interaction effects in multiple regression. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston M., Wright, S., & Weinman, J. (1995). Individual and demographic differences. In Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. Windsor, Berkshire: NFER-Nelson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, H., Benyamini, Y., Brownlee, S., Diefenbach, M., Leventhal, E. A., Patrick-Miller, P., & Robitaille, C. (1997). Illness representations: Theoretical foundations. In K. J. Petrie & J. Weinman (Eds.), Perceptions of health and illness (pp. 19–46) London: Harwood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marteau, T. M., & Bekker, H. (1992). The development of a six-item short-form of the state scale of the Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 31, 301–306.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michie, S., Bobrow, M., & Marteau, T. M. (2001). Predictive genetic testing in children and adults: A study of emotional impact. Journal of Medical Genetics, 38, 519–526.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michie, S., McDonald, V., & Marteau, T. M. (1996). Understanding responsestopredictive genetic testing: A grounded theory approach. Psychology and Health, 11, 455–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michie, S., Weinman, J., Miller, J., Collins, V., Halliday, J., & Marteau, T. M. (2002). Predictive genetic testing: High risk expectations in the face of low risk information. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25, 33–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrie, K. J., Weinman, J., Sharpe, N., & Buckley, J. (1996). Role of patients view of their illness in predicting return towork and functioning after myocardial infarction: Longitudinal study. British Medical Journal, 312, 1191–1194.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1989). Society and the adolescent self-image. (reprint edition). Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985). Optimism, coping and health: Assessment and implications of generalised outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4, 219–247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzer, R. (1994). Optimism, vulnerability, and self-beliefs as health-related cognitions: A systematic overview. Psychology and Health, 9, 161–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segerstrom, S. C., Taylor, S. E., Kemeny, M. E., & Fahey, J. L. (1998). Optimism is associated with mood, coping and immune change in response to stress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1646–1655.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D. (1973). STAIC preliminary manual for the state-trait inventory for children. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timman, R., Zoeteweij, M. W., Tibben, A., Breuning, M. H., & Passchier, J. (2000). Long-term (7-10 years) psychological follow up after predictive testing for Huntington’s Disease in the Netherlands. Journal Medical Genetics., 37, Suppl. 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wooldridge, E. Q., & Murray, R. F. (1998). The Health Orientation scale: A measure of feelings about sickle cell trait. Social Biology, 35, 123–136.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan Michie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michie, S., French, D.P. & Marteau, T.M. Predictive genetic testing: Mediators and moderators of anxiety. Int. J. Behav. Med. 9, 309–321 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327558IJBM0904_02

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327558IJBM0904_02

Key words

Navigation