Impact of BRCA1/2 Testing on Marital Relationships
Abstract
The present study is a prospective examination of the impact of genetic testing for breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility on marital relationships and the quality of life of husbands. Participants are women (age 18 and older) who are members of families in which a disease conferring mutation has been identified and their spouses. Interviews of husbands and wives are completely by telephone prior to receiving test results as well as 1-, 6-, and 12-months after test disclosure. The preliminary data showed that wives (n=49) were more likely to use avoidance have intrusive thoughts and experience psychological distress compared to husbands (n=35). Wives also rated higher marital satisfaction. The husbands scored lower at baseline on four of the measures of interest (the presence of intrusive thoughts, general psychological distress, state anxiety, and marital adjustment) than 1-month after follow-up (n=6). The results of the preliminary analysis suggest that husbands may experience less psychological distress than wives at the baseline assessment (pre-mutation disclosure). However, the level of distress may increase for the husbands within one month of learning of the wife's mutation status. Further analysis when more disclosures have been completed will elucidate the association between mutation status outcome and these psychological measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA389905
Entities
People
- Sharon Manne
Organizations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center