TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of psychological distress among individuals with a strong family history of malignant melanoma
AU - Kasparian, Nadine A.
AU - Meiser, B.
AU - Butow, P. N.
AU - Simpson, J. M.
AU - Mann, G. J.
PY - 2008/2
Y1 - 2008/2
N2 - Despite rapid advancements in molecular genetics research, little is known about the psychological experiences of individuals with a family history of melanoma. The present study aimed to identify factors contributing to psychological distress among affected and unaffected individuals with a strong family history of melanoma. A total of 121 adults who had recently been informed of the identification of a family- specific mutation in the CDKN2A melanoma susceptibility gene, completed a self-report questionnaire assessing cancer-specific and generalized distress, and a variety of potential predictors. Having a personal history of melanoma (OR = 3.37, p = 0.033), perceiving greater family implications of melanoma (OR = 2.52, p < 0.0001), and the tendency to monitor for threatening information (OR = 3.12, p = 0.008) were associated with melanoma-specific distress. Being childless (β = 2.09, p = 0.007), perceiving sun exposure as an important cause of melanoma (β = 1.15, p = 0.015), and perceiving greater family implications of melanoma (β = 1.02, p = 0.002) were associated with greater generalized anxiety, while monitoring moderated the relationship between endorsement of a genetic model of melanoma and generalized anxiety (p = 0.005). As in other common familial cancers, distress was relatively uncommon in this familial melanoma cohort, even after notification of the presence of a family mutation. Participants do not contemplate their melanoma risk in isolation, but evaluate their risk vis-à-vis the experiences of their relatives.
AB - Despite rapid advancements in molecular genetics research, little is known about the psychological experiences of individuals with a family history of melanoma. The present study aimed to identify factors contributing to psychological distress among affected and unaffected individuals with a strong family history of melanoma. A total of 121 adults who had recently been informed of the identification of a family- specific mutation in the CDKN2A melanoma susceptibility gene, completed a self-report questionnaire assessing cancer-specific and generalized distress, and a variety of potential predictors. Having a personal history of melanoma (OR = 3.37, p = 0.033), perceiving greater family implications of melanoma (OR = 2.52, p < 0.0001), and the tendency to monitor for threatening information (OR = 3.12, p = 0.008) were associated with melanoma-specific distress. Being childless (β = 2.09, p = 0.007), perceiving sun exposure as an important cause of melanoma (β = 1.15, p = 0.015), and perceiving greater family implications of melanoma (β = 1.02, p = 0.002) were associated with greater generalized anxiety, while monitoring moderated the relationship between endorsement of a genetic model of melanoma and generalized anxiety (p = 0.005). As in other common familial cancers, distress was relatively uncommon in this familial melanoma cohort, even after notification of the presence of a family mutation. Participants do not contemplate their melanoma risk in isolation, but evaluate their risk vis-à-vis the experiences of their relatives.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Causal attributions
KW - Depression
KW - Family history
KW - Melanoma
KW - Psychological adjustment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38349095097&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00949.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00949.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 18177469
AN - SCOPUS:38349095097
SN - 0009-9163
VL - 73
SP - 121
EP - 131
JO - Clinical Genetics
JF - Clinical Genetics
IS - 2
ER -