Abstract

This study aimed to understand long-term coping responses of mothers (N = 287) receiving genetic counseling and testing (GCT) for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Psychological characteristics, including cancer-specific distress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised, α = .85) and coping (Brief COPE, α = .93) were assessed via structured personal communication, along with epidemiologic items assessing personal and family history of cancer. Genetic risk was determined by BRCA1/2 carriage. A principal component analysis was conducted on the coping measure to reduce its summary score to active coping (α = .91) with nine approach-oriented strategies responsive to stress. A multivariable regression model examined the main and interacting effects of clinical and psychological characteristics on maternal coping. Personal cancer history (F = 4.99, df = 1, p = .026), BRCA test result (F = 22.20, df = 1, p < .001), and cancer-specific distress (F = 17.80, df = 1, p < .001) were associated with greater engagement in active coping strategies. When controlling for cancer-specific distress, the interaction between personal cancer history and genetic test results was significant, such that women previously unaffected by cancer who received positive BRCA results reported the greatest levels of active coping (F = 7.92, p < .001). These findings indicate that previous cancer history, genetic risk, and psychological distress independently and jointly impact how women adapt to the threat of cancer over time.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.