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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2/2010

01-10-2010 | Original Article

Preferences for Genetic and Behavioral Health Information: The Impact of Risk Factors and Disease Attributions

Authors: Suzanne C. O’Neill, Ph.D., Colleen M. McBride, Ph.D., Sharon Hensley Alford, Ph.D., Kimberly A. Kaphingst, Sc.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2010

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Abstract

Increased availability of genetic risk information may lead the public to give precedence to genetic causation over behavioral/environmental factors, decreasing motivation for behavior change. Few population-based data inform these concerns. We assess the association of family history, behavioral risks, and causal attributions for diseases and the perceived value of pursuing information emphasizing health habits or genes. 1,959 healthy adults completed a survey that assessed behavioral risk factors, family history, causal attributions of eight diseases, and health information preferences. Participants’ causal beliefs favored health behaviors over genetics. Interest in behavioral information was higher than in genetic information. As behavioral risk factors increased, inclination toward genetic explanations increased; interest in how health habits affect disease risk decreased. Those at greatest need for behavior change may hold attributions that diminish interest in information for behavior change. Enhancing understanding of gene-environment influences could be explored to increase engagement with health information.
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Metadata
Title
Preferences for Genetic and Behavioral Health Information: The Impact of Risk Factors and Disease Attributions
Authors
Suzanne C. O’Neill, Ph.D.
Colleen M. McBride, Ph.D.
Sharon Hensley Alford, Ph.D.
Kimberly A. Kaphingst, Sc.D.
Publication date
01-10-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9197-1

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