Frequency Of Worry Research Articles

Association of Germline Genetic Test Type and Results With Patient Cancer Worry After Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

There are concerns that multigene panel testing compared with BRCA1/ 2-only testing after diagnosis of breast cancer may lead to unnecessary patient worry about cancer because of more ambiguous results. Patients with breast cancer diagnosed from 2013 to 2015 and accrued from SEER registries in Georgia and Los Angeles were surveyed (n = 5,080; response rate, 70%), and responses were merged with SEER data and germline genetic testing and results. We examined patient reports of cancer worry by test type and results in 1,063 women who linked to a genetic test and reported undergoing testing. More than half of the sample (n = 640; 60.2%) received BRCA1/2-only testing versus 423 patients (39.8%) who had a multigene panel. A minority of tested patients reported substantial cancer worry after treatment: 11.1% (n = 130) reported higher impact of cancer worry, and 15.1% (n = 162) reported a high frequency of cancer worry (worrying often or almost always) in the past month. Impact of cancer worry did not substantively differ by test type, test result outcomes, or clinical or treatment factors. The odds ratio for higher impact of cancer worry was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.51 to 1.28) for multigene versus BRCA1/2-only testing. In a separate model, the odds ratios were 1.21 (95% CI, 0.54 to 2.68) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.50 to 1.62) for pathogenic variant and variant of uncertain significance, respectively, versus a negative test (the reference group). Compared with BRCA1/2 testing alone, multigene panel testing was not associated with increased cancer worry after diagnosis of breast cancer.

Advance Care Planning Experiences and Preferences among People with Cystic Fibrosis.

Advance care planning (ACP) is recommended for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), yet guidance for optimal implementation is lacking. To assess ACP-related thoughts, comfort level, and preferences among people with CF to guide evidence-based routine implementation of ACP in the CF clinic. A cross-sectional survey assessed ACP-related experiences and preferences. Thirty-eight adolescents and adults with CF from an urban CF center. Few subjects reported talking to their CF team about ACP care preferences (5%) or completing advance directives detailing desired medical treatments (11%). However, most participants worried about living with advanced disease (84%) and felt comfortable discussing ACP preferences with CF providers (92%). Subjects largely preferred that ACP conversations occur when they are generally healthy, in the outpatient setting, and with any familiar CF team member. Disease severity was not associated with frequency of worry about living with advanced disease, comfort level with ACP discussions, or ACP setting preferences. People with CF worry about advanced disease and feel comfortable discussing ACP, but need more guidance to understand and document ACP choices. CF patient experiences and preferences support implementation of an early, active approach to ACP for people with CF.

Examining characteristics of worry in relation to depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation and attempts

BackgroundPathological worry is defined as worry that is excessive, pervasive, and uncontrollable. Although pathological worry is related to depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, less is understood about what specific features of worry confer risk for these mental health conditions. The current study examined associations between four characteristics of worry—frequency, duration, controllability, and content—and self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and lifetime suicide attempts. MethodsA sample of 548 community participants (53.6% female, 45.4% male, 0.5% transgender male, 0.2% transgender female, and 0.2% gender non-binary), aged 19–98 years (M = 36.54, SD = 12.33), was recruited via Amazon's MTurk and completed a battery of self-report questionnaires online. ResultsResults indicated that controllability of worry was uniquely associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation above and beyond other characteristics of worry, demographic variables, negative affect, and future-oriented repetitive thinking. Lifetime suicide attempts were found non-significant to these mental health outcomes. Frequency of worry was also positively related to depression. LimitationsThis study utilized a cross-sectional design with exclusive self-report measures. ConclusionsOverall, these findings suggest that controllability of one's thoughts may be a key transdiagnostic factor that confers risk for a variety of psychopathology-related concerns. Clinical relevance includes identifying potential risk factors for varying psychopathology. Future research should examine relationships between worry controllability and anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and attempts, within clinical samples and utilizing a variety of methodologies.

Cancer worries and uptake of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening: A population-based survey in England.

Some degree of general worry about cancer may facilitate screening participation, but specific worries about the potential consequences (e.g. treatment, death) may act as deterrents. No studies have examined these associations in the same sample. We assessed associations between general versus specific cancer worries and cancer screening participation. In 2016, a population-based cross-sectional survey of adults living in England was carried out. This paper reports analyses of a subsample (n = 1694). Measures included (i) frequency of general cancer worry, (ii) specific worries about the emotional and physical consequences of a cancer diagnosis, and (iii) specific worries about the social consequences of a cancer diagnosis. Logistic regression analyses examined their association with self-reported screening uptake among participants eligible for cervical (n = 671), breast (n = 323), and colorectal (n = 368) cancer screening. Frequency of general cancer worry was not associated with screening participation. Specific worry about the emotional and physical consequences increased the odds of participants reporting regular uptake of colorectal screening (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.04-1.90). Specific worry about the social consequences of diagnosis was negatively associated with regular attendance for cervical and breast screening in unadjusted analyses only. In adjusted models, the associations were no longer statistically significant for cervical (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.65-1.03) or breast (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.45-1.04) screening. Specific worries about cancer may be differentially associated with participation across screening programmes. Further research is needed, as interventions to optimise informed participation may be improved if the specific worries associated with low participation in each programme are understood.

Relationship between individual and family characteristics and psychosocial factors in persons with familial pancreatic cancer.

Describe relationships between self-reported personal demographics or familial characteristics and psychosocial outcomes (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Global Health, Impact of Event Scale-Revised [pancreatic cancer risk-related distress], cancer risk perception, and cancer worry) in participants with inherited or familial pancreatic cancer risk. A multisite cross sectional survey of adults with elevated pancreatic cancer risk based on family history. All variables were summarized with descriptive statistics. To assess univariate associations, t test and chi-square/Fisher's exact test were used, and backward model selection was used in multivariable analysis. Respondents (N=132) reported moderate to high frequency of cancer worry and 59.3% perceived a 50% or more perceived lifetime risk for pancreatic cancer, which far exceeds objective risk estimates. Cancer worry was associated with female gender (P=.03) and pancreatic cancer risk specific distress (P=.05). Higher-risk perception was associated with having a high school education or less (P=.001), higher distress (P=.02), and cancer worry (P=.008) and family cancer death experience (P=.02). Higher distress was associated with experience as a caregiver to a seriously ill family member in the past 5years (P=.006). Individuals with inherited or familial pancreatic cancer risk experience cancer worry, distress, and have increased risk perception, particularly in the period following caring for a loved one with cancer. Routine evaluation of distress in this setting, as well as the development of supportive care resources, will help support patients living with risk for pancreatic cancer.

Cancer worries and uptake of screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer: a population-based survey in England

BackgroundModerate worry about cancer, defined as a negative emotional reaction to the threat of cancer, in general facilitates uptake of cancer screening, but some studies suggest that specific worries about potential consequences of cancer (eg, cancer treatments or dying) may act as deterrents. However, no studies have examined these associations in the same sample. We aimed to assess the impact of general versus specific cancer worries on cancer screening attendance. MethodsWe analysed data from a population-based survey of 2048 English adults (18–70 years, median 43 [IQR 30–58], 1098 [54%] female) using home-based, computer-assisted personal interviewing delivered via the TNS Omnibus survey tool. Cancer worries were measured with one item about the frequency of general cancer worry, and two subscales of six specific cancer worry items relating to cancer treatments and death, and to the social consequences of a cancer diagnosis (including its impact on identity, sexuality, important relationships, and finances). All items were adapted from a validated scale. Using logistic regression analysis, we examined the association between these three types of cancer worry and self-reported screening attendance (regular vs never or irregular) among participants eligible for cervical (n=673), breast (323), and bowel cancer (369) screening. Previous studies show that self-reported uptake is a reliable measure of actual attendance. All participants gave verbal informed consent. Ethics approval was given by University College London Research Ethics Committee (5771/002). FindingsRegular screening attendance was reported by 74·7% (n=503), 82·0% (265), and 65·9% (243) of participants for cervical, breast, and bowel cancer screening, respectively. General cancer worry was not associated with screening attendance. Worries about the social consequences of a cancer diagnosis, but not about treatment and death, were associated with a lower likelihood of regular attendance for cervical screening (odds ratio 0·77, 95% CI 0·61–0·96; p=0·021) and breast screening (0·63, 0·43–0·92; p=0·016). By contrast, worries about treatment and death, but not social consequences, were associated with higher odds of regular uptake of bowel screening (1·47, 1·10–1·96; p=0·009). InterpretationSpecific worries about cancer can affect attendance differently across screening programmes. Interventions to increase informed participation in screening could target the specific worries shown to deter participation in each programme. FundingSupported by a programme grant from Cancer Research UK programme grant (C1418/A14134). Cancer Research UK was not involved in the design of this study; collection, analysis, or interpretation of the results; the writing of the abstract; or the decision to submit for publication.

Worry about recurrence and patient preferences for provider roles in collaborative breast cancer care.

158 Background: Prior studies have shown that worry about recurrence is a common problem during cancer treatment and survivorship and may be associated with symptom response and surveillance after primary treatment. However, whether worry about recurrence influences patient preferences for which provider to see for their continuing care remains unknown. Methods: A random sample of patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014-15 as reported to the Georgia and Los Angeles SEER registries were surveyed approximately 6 months after diagnosis (N = 2,502, 70% response rate). Frequency of worry about recurrence was defined by asking women to indicate on a 5-pt scale how often they worried about their cancer coming back in the past month (not at all-always) and was then dichotomized as frequent worry (sometimes/often/almost always) vs. less worry (almost never/rarely). Patient preferences for which provider manages certain aspects of care after treatment were ascertained for: follow-up mammograms, screening for other cancers, general preventive care, and treatment of comorbidities. Response categories included primary care clinician (PCP), cancer doctors, either or both. The associations between patient-reported worry about recurrence with preferences for provider roles were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: In this sample, 37% of women reported worrying frequently about recurrence. Controlling for patient and clinical factors, women who reported more frequent worry (vs. less worry) were more likely to prefer to see both clinicians (vs. PCP only) for mammograms (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.5, 3.6), screening for other cancers (OR: 2.3, 95%CI: 1.5, 3.5), general preventive care (OR: 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1, 2.3) and comorbidity care (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.03, 2.2). Conclusions: Frequent worry about recurrence was common in this sample of women with favorable prognosis breast cancer. More frequent worry about breast cancer recurrence was associated with stronger preferences for seeing both PCPs and oncologists for continuing care after treatment. Assessing and managing worry about recurrence early in survivorship may improve collaborative cancer care and reduce duplicated services after treatment.

Dispositional pandemic worry and the health belief model: promoting vaccination during pandemic events

Promoting vaccination during pandemics is paramount to public health, yet few studies examined theoretical motivations for vaccination during pandemics. Thus, the relationships between dispositional pandemic worry, constructs of the health belief model (HBM) and vaccination during the H1N1 pandemic were studied. Participants (N=1377) completed surveys assessing dispositional pandemic worry, HBM variables and H1N1 vaccination. Principle axis factor analysis and point biserial correlations were conducted. Differences in worry and vaccination were assessed via independent samples t-tests. Relationships between vaccination, demographics and worry were investigated using hierarchical linear regression. PROCESS analysis was conducted to explicate the relationship between worry and vaccination intention. A two-factor structure of dispositional pandemic worry-worry frequency and worry severity-was confirmed. Dispositional worry was higher among those who intended to and received H1N1 vaccine. Worry frequency and worry severity were positively related to vaccination. Threat, benefits and barriers mediated the impact of worry severity and threat and barriers mediated the impact of worry frequency on vaccination intentions. Messages increasing dispositional worry and benefits while decreasing barriers may boost vaccination behavior during a pandemic event. Future study of relationships between dispositional worry and HBM variables is warranted.

Worries, coping strategies and well-being in adolescence: highlights from HBSC study in Portugal

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to understand adolescents’ worries and the strategies used to face them, and what makes them feel good. In this study, 3869 adolescents participated, of which 46.8% boys, attending grades 8 and 10, mean age 14.7 years, SD = 1.18, included in the Portuguese Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey 2014. In the first quantitative study, simple descriptive analyses and chi-squares were carried out and a regression model associated the intensity and frequency of worries with a decrease in perceived well-being; in a second qualitative study, content analysis was carried out regarding open questions about types of worries and ways to cope with worries and to increase well-being. It was clear that the majority of adolescents got worried frequently, part of them let worries interfere significantly with their lives, and that the best coping strategies are either trying to fix the problem or distraction. Family, peers (social support) and leisure time (distraction) are important factors in ensuring young people’s well-being. School seems to be ‘part of the problem’ but never ‘part of the solution’. Compared with previous studies, the economic crisis appears to be associated with the increased relevance of a new worry – economic and financial issues were not previously relevant. Gender and developmental/age differences were found. Although intensity and frequency of worries were significantly associated with lower perception of well-being, frequency had a higher association. The implications for health promotion interventions in families and in schools are discussed together with implications for public policies in the area of mental health.

Factors Associated With Cancer Worry Among People Aged 50 or Older, Spain, 2012-2014.

IntroductionCancer worry varies among patients and may influence their participation in preventive activities. We tested whether sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, locus of control, comorbidity, and perceived health status were associated with the level of cancer worry among adults aged 50 or older.MethodsWe conducted an observational cross-sectional study of 666 adults in Spain aged 50 or older. Participants were selected by simple random sampling and asked to visit their designated health center for a personal interview. The study variables were level of cancer worry (measured by Cancer Worry Scale [CWS]), sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, personal history or family history of cancer, comorbidity, self-perceived health, locus of control, and social support. ResultsMore than half of participants, 58.1%, were women; mean age was 60.5 years (standard deviation [SD], 6.8 y). Measurement of the frequency and severity of cancer worry (possible scale of 6–24 points) yielded a mean CWS score of 9.3 (95% confidence interval, 9.0–9.5); 31.9% of participants reported being concerned about cancer. Scores were higher among women (9.7 [SD, 3.3]) than men (8.7 [SD, 2.7]) (P < .001) and among participants in rural settings (10.0 [SD, 3.4]) than in urban settings (9.0 [SD, 3.0]) (P < .001). Multiple linear regression showed a greater degree of cancer worry among people with personal or family history of cancer, more health problems, worse self-perceived health, and lower social support.ConclusionCancer worry is frequent among older adults, and the level of such concern is related not only to personal characteristics but also to lifestyle and health status. Further research is required to understand how contextual factors can influence cancer worry and how such concern changes behavior patterns related to cancer prevention activities.

The development of worry throughout childhood: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children data

Anxiety is a normal part of childhood and adolescence; however, longitudinal research investigating the development of worrisome thoughts throughout childhood is lacking. This study investigated mothers' perspectives on their child's normal development of worry as the cognitive component of anxiety and its impact on child functioning in a longitudinal population-based cohort. The data for this study were extracted from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Mothers (N = 2,227) reported on their child's worry content, frequency, control, emotional disruption, and interference when their child was 7, 10, and 13 years old using the parent component of the Development and Well-being Assessment. At age 10 and 13, pubertal status was assessed using children's self-report of pubic hair developmental progress. Mothers reported a peak of worrisome thoughts at 10. Emotional disruption was highest at 10, and the highest level of interference in daily life was observed at 13, especially for girls. Advanced pubertal status and worry frequency were positively associated for boys at 10 and girls at 13. Advanced puberty at 10 was also associated with overall higher worry frequency and emotional disruption. Findings are discussed within a developmental framework outlining the normal development of worrisome thoughts, associated distress, and interference throughout early adolescence. Increased knowledge of normative worry could be informative to further our understanding of adolescence as a vulnerable period for the development of mental health problems, such as generalized anxiety disorder. What is already known on this subject? Worrying is a normal part of childhood, making distinguishing between normal and pathological worrying challenging. Worry content remains consistent between age 4 and 7, but only for boys. The complexity and elaboration of worrisome thoughts increase from 8 years onwards. What does this study add? Worry frequency peaks at 10 and a low ability to control those worries can be observed at this age. The highest level of interference in performing daily activities due to worries is observed at age 13. Child sex and pubertal status play a role in understanding how normal worry patterns develop from age 10 onwards.

Reducing worry and subjective health complaints: A randomized trial of an internet-delivered worry postponement intervention.

Several studies have shown that perseverative, worrisome thoughts are prospectively related to subjective health complaints (SHC) and that a short worry postponement intervention can decrease these complaints. As SHC and worry are prevalent and costly, we tested whether the intervention can be offered online to reduce these complaints in the general population. A randomized parallel-group trial was conducted with self-selected participants from the general population. Via the research website, 996 participants were instructed to register their worrying for 6 consecutive days. The intervention group was instructed to postpone worry to a special 30-min period in the early evening. The Subjective Health Complaints inventory, as administered before and after the intervention, and daily worry frequency and duration were considered the primary outcomes. Three hundred and sixty-one participants completed the study. Contrary to our expectation, the registration group (n = 188) did not differ from the intervention group (n = 163) in SHC (ηp² = .000, CI [0.000-0.003]), or in worry frequency or duration. Nevertheless, the different worry parameters were moderately related to SHC (r between .238 and .340, p ≤ .001). In contrast to previous studies using pen-and-pencil versions of the worry postponement intervention, this study suggests that a direct online implementation was not effective in reducing SHC and worry. Overall, participants had high trait worry levels and reported difficulty with postponing worrying. Reducing SHC and worries via the Internet might require more elaborate interventions that better incorporate the advantages of delivering interventions online. What is already known on this subject? The perseverative cognition hypothesis argues that perseverative cognition, such as worry and rumination, acts as a mediator by which psychosocial stress may produce negative health effects. Prior research has indeed shown that worry and subjective health complaints (SHC) are prospectively related, but causality studies - that is, showing that changes in worry induce changes in health outcomes - are scarce and have mainly been conducted in young samples. These studies showed that reducing worry, using a worry postponement intervention, can reduce daily worrying and SHC. What does this study add? Trait and daily worrying are associated with SHC. An online worry postponement intervention is ineffective in reducing worry and SHC. Paper-and-pencil interventions cannot directly be used as online interventions.

Correlation analysis of the cancer anxiety and self-rated health status among clinical nurses in the cancer hospital

Objective To explore oncology-related clinical nurses′ cancer anxiety and their self-rated health status, and the relationship between these two variables. Methods This study was cross sectional survey, and a total of 290 clinical nurses were investigated the general information, the anxiety sense of cancer and self-rated of health condition, and were analyzed the possibility self-rated of cancer acquirement among nurses, degree of worry, frequency of worry and self-rated of health condition. Results There was 85.8% of nurses who believed they had lower level to acquired cancer/tumor in future, while 24.5% of nurses were quiet/very worried to have cancer in future, 29.0% of nurses sometimes/always worried about cancer acquirement. There was 93.4% of nurses who assessed themselves health as normal or good. Spearman correlation analysis presented the possibility self-rated of cancer acquirement, degree of worry, frequency of worry had negative relationship with self-rated of health condition (r=-0.351, -0.385, -0.325, respectively; P<0.01). Conclusions The anxiety level of nurses in the cancer hospital have negative correlation with self-rated of health condition, and partial of nurses have gained high level of anxiety who required adjustment. The manager should provide psychological support for clinical nurses, and the nurses also requires to enhance their psychological diathesis for relieving psychological burden. Key words: Nurses; Cancer hospital; Cancer anxiety; Self-rated health; Correlation

Clinical significance of worry and physical symptoms in late-life generalized anxiety disorder.

Worry is a hallmark feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, age-related changes in symptom presentation raise questions about the clinical significance of these symptom clusters in later life. The aim of this study was to explore the relative contribution of worry and physical symptom frequency to clinical significance associated with late-life GAD. A sample of 637 self-reported worriers (aged 65 years and older) was extracted from Wave 1 of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. Consistent with previous findings, we observed reductions in worry frequency and increases in physical symptom frequency with increasing age of participants. Physical symptoms, but not worry symptoms, distinguished older adults with clinical and sub-threshold GAD. Whereas physical symptom count was associated with distress, occupational, and functional disability, worry count was only associated with distress. Among self-reported worriers, worry frequency provides limited clinical utility over and above physical symptom frequency. These findings suggest that physical symptom frequency may become an increasingly important feature of GAD in later life.

Psychosocial Predictors of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intentions for Young Women 18 to 26: Religiosity, Morality, Promiscuity, and Cancer Worry

ObjectivesTo determine whether five psychosocial variables, namely, religiosity, morality, perceived promiscuity, cancer worry frequency, and cancer worry severity, predict young women's intentions to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. MethodsFemale undergraduate students (n = 408) completed an online survey. Questions pertaining to hypothesized predictors were analyzed through bivariate correlations and hierarchical regression equations. Regressions examined whether the five psychosocial variables of interest predicted intentions to vaccinate above and beyond controls. Proposed interactions among predictor variables were also tested. ResultsStudy findings supported cancer worry as a direct predictor of HPV vaccination intention, and religiosity and sexual experience as moderators of the relationship between concerns of promiscuity reputation and intentions to vaccinate. One dimension of cancer worry (severity) emerged as a particularly robust predictor for this population. ConclusionsThis study provides support for several important, yet understudied, factors contributing to HPV vaccination intentions among college-aged women: cancer worry severity and religiosity. Future research should continue to assess the predictive contributions of these variables and evaluate how messages and campaigns to increase HPV vaccination uptake can utilize religious involvement and worry about cancer to promote more effectively HPV vaccination as a cancer prevention strategy.

Metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty and worry: An investigation in adolescents

BackgroundCognitive models of Generalized Anxiety Disorder have mainly been tested in adult samples to date. Studies investigating whether the concepts are also applicable to worry in adolescents are largely lacking. The goal of the present study was to test the relationship between worry and key cognitive variables (positive and negative metacognitions; intolerance of uncertainty) in adolescents. MethodSecondary school students (N=521) completed self-report measures of worry frequency, metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty, and depression. ResultsResults showed a significant association between metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty and worry, even after controlling for depression. In regression analyses, a substantial proportion of the variance of worry could be accounted for by the cognitive variables of interest. ConclusionsThe findings support the relevance of metacognitions and intolerance of uncertainty for understanding cognitive mechanisms underlying worry in adolescents. It appears useful to combine them into a more comprehensive integrated model.

The Existence of Experience and Frequency and Severity of Related Concerns of Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice Encountered in Organ Transplantation

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to elucidate the existence of the experience of and the frequency and severity of related concerns of distressful ethical situations encountered by nursing professionals in organ transplantation. MethodsAn anonymous self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 569 nurses in 79 facilities that performed organ transplantation with living or brain-dead donors who provided approval for this study. The questionnaire, developed according to the Likert method, was composed of 12 items referring to the basic attributes of nursing professionals based on the results of previous studies and the scientific literature, as well as 27 items referring to the presence or absence and the frequency and severity of concerns regarding ethical situations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. ResultsThe questionnaire was distributed to 569 nursing professionals working in 79 facilities that had provided consent for study participation. Responses were obtained from 218 participants (recovery rate: 38.3%). Among the 3 highest-ranking items, those in the first and second positions in terms of the presence or absence and the frequency of worries were the same as those in the second and third positions in terms of the severity of concerns. In addition, the 3 lower-ranking items also were the same. Among the ethical situations encountered by nursing professionals, the ones most often experienced that caused the most concern were the following: “I have questioned whether it was better for the recipient, who could not do self-care after the transplant, to undergo transplantation”, and “I have felt that a recipient decided to receive a transplant without considering the importance of posttransplant self-management when making a decision about transplant surgery.” ConclusionsThe results indicate that most of the ethical issues related to organ transplantation in nursing practice were experienced because recipients, their families, and donors could not foresee the various problems that might occur after transplantation.

Mode Effects in Assessing Cancer Worry and Risk Perceptions

Risk perceptions and worry are important determinants of health behavior. Despite extensive research on these constructs, it is unknown whether people's self-reports of perceived risk and worry are biased by their concerns about being viewed negatively by others (social desirability). In this study, we examined whether reports of perceived risk and worry about cancer varied across survey modes differing in the salience of social desirability cues. We used data from the National Cancer Institute's 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, which assessed perceived cancer risk and worry in 1 of 2 survey modes: an interviewer-administered telephone survey (higher likelihood of socially desirable responding; n = 3678) and a self-administered mail survey (lower likelihood of socially desirable responding; n = 3445). Data were analyzed by regressing perceived risk and worry on survey mode and demographic factors. Analyses showed no effect of survey mode on cancer risk perceptions (B = 0.02, P = 0.55, d = 0.02). However, cancer worry was significantly higher in the self-administered mode than in the interviewer-administered mode (B = 0.24, P < 0.001, d = 0.26). Education moderated this effect, with respondents lower in education exhibiting a stronger mode effect. When cancer worry was dichotomized, the odds of reporting cancer worry were approximately twice as high in the self-administered mode compared with the interviewer-administered mode (OR = 2.13, P < 0.001). These results bolster the veracity of self-reported cancer risk perceptions. They also suggest that interviewer-administered surveys may underestimate the frequency of cancer worry, particularly for samples lower in socioeconomic status. Studies are needed to test for this effect in clinical contexts.

Comparing the Level of Solitary and Ostracize Worry between Orphanage Children and Non-orphanage Children According to Children's Apperception Test

The goal of this research is to compare the level of solitary and ostracize worry between orphanage children and non-orphanage children according to children's apperception test. This is a causal-comparative study and the population consist the whole boys and girls students aged 7 to 10 years, that have been chosen from two schools and all the children (boys and girls) who lived at least one year at a boarding orphanage centre in Tehran. The sample includes 50 children between the age of 7–10, that 23 of them were in orphanage group and 27 child's in non-orphanage group. The research is based on children apperception test. Statistics analysis has been done based on Chi-square and the results show that (P >0/05) frequency of solitary worry in orphanage children is more than regular children, but the frequency of ostracize worry, in regular children is more.

Psychological Distress after a Positive Fecal Occult Blood Test Result among Members of an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System

Colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) reduces morbidity and mortality; however, the positive benefits might be partially offset by long-term distress following positive screening results. We examined relationships among colorectal cancer-specific worry and situational anxiety after positive fecal occult blood tests [FOBT (+)] compared with receipt of negative results. Of note, 2,260 eligible members of Group Health, an integrated healthcare delivery system, completed baseline surveys and received FOBT screening kits, with 1,467 members returning the kits. We matched FOBT (+) patients (n = 55) 1:2 on age and sex with FOBT (-) respondents (n = 110). Both groups completed follow-up surveys at 7 to 14 days and 4 months after screening. We assessed situational anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), colorectal cancer worry frequency, and mood disturbance. Mean age was 59 years, and majority were women (62%) and White (89%). After adjusting for age, sex, and baseline worry, at 7 to 14 days after screening, the FOBT (+) group was 3.82 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-13.43] times more likely to report colorectal cancer-related mood disturbances and significantly higher mean STAI scores than the FOBT (-) group (mean = 38.8 vs. 30.9; P = 0.007). At 4-month posttest, mood disturbances and situational anxiety seemed to drop to baseline levels for FOBT (+). No colon cancer worry frequency was observed. FOBT (+) results are associated with short-term situational anxiety and colorectal cancer-specific mood disturbances. Distress from FOBT (+) results declined to near-baseline levels by 4 months. Additional studies are needed to clarify the relationship between long-term distress and follow-up colonoscopy.