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A Model of Disease-Specific Worry in Heritable Disease: The Influence of Family History, Perceived Risk and Worry About Other Illnesses

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Disease-related worry is associated with family history and perceived risk of that disease; however, the influences of general risk perceptions and tendencies to worry about diseases have been neglected in the literature. This study investigates a model of disease-specific worry which includes family history, disease-specific perceived risk, and perceived risk for and worry about other diseases. Participants completed a survey assessing these variables in relation to several heritable diseases. Structural equation modeling found that family history predicted disease-specific perceived risk but not perceived risk for other diseases. Disease-specific perceived risk predicted disease-specific worry and worry about other diseases. Perceived risk for other diseases predicted worry about other diseases and disease-specific perceived risk but not disease-specific worry. Disease-specific worry predicted worry about other diseases. This model was supported across several diseases and indicates that disease-specific and general considerations of risk influence worry about a disease and should be considered in interventions.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was supported by the Yeshiva University Faculty Summer Fellowship, 2001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University, New York, U.S.

    Terry A. DiLorenzo

  2. Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, U.S.

    Julie Schnur, Guy H. Montgomery, Joel Erblich & Dana H. Bovbjerg

  3. City University of New York Graduate School, New York, U.S.

    Gary Winkel

  4. Stern College, 245 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, U.S.

    Terry A. DiLorenzo

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  1. Terry A. DiLorenzo
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  2. Julie Schnur
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  4. Joel Erblich
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  6. Dana H. Bovbjerg
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DiLorenzo, T.A., Schnur, J., Montgomery, G.H. et al. A Model of Disease-Specific Worry in Heritable Disease: The Influence of Family History, Perceived Risk and Worry About Other Illnesses. J Behav Med 29, 37–49 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-005-9039-y

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