Abstract
Women with (n = 65) and without (n = 70) a family history of breast cancer reported on their thoughts and concern about the disease. Measures were taken across a 1-month interval and at a 1-year follow-up. Reported screening behaviors were also measured at baseline and the 1-year follow-up. Worry dissipated over time, suggesting that worry levels are affected by the measurement context. However, women with a family history of the disease maintained greater worry than those without such a history, suggesting that they may be chronically worried about the disease. Thinking and worrying about breast cancer were both modestly and positively related to the frequency of screening behaviors, suggesting that some kinds of worry can motivate self-protective behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Cancer Society (1994). The New BSE [film]. Available from the ACS, 1599 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia, 30329.
Compas, B. E., Worsham, N. L., Ey, S., and Howell, D. C. (1996). When mom or dad has cancer: II. Coping, cognitive appraisals, and psychological distress in children of cancer patients. Health Psychol. 15: 167–175.
Council, J. R. (1993). Context effects in personality research. Curr. Direct. Psychol. Sci. 2: 31–34.
Davey, G. C. L. (1993). A comparison of three worry questionnaires. Behav. Res. Ther. 31: 51–56.
Horowitz, M., Wilner, N., and Alverez, W. (1979). Impact of event scale: A measure of subjective stress. Psychosomat. Med. 41: 209–218.
Kash, K. M., Holland, J. C., Halper, M. S., and Miller, D. G. (1992). Psychological distress and surveillance behaviors of women with a family history of breast cancer. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 84: 24–30.
Kash, K. M., Holland, J. C., Osborne, M. P., and Miller, D. G. (1995). Psychological counseling strategies for women at risk of breast cancer. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 17: 73–79.
Lerman, C., Daly, M., Sands, C., Balshem, A., Lustbader, E., Heggan, T., Goldstein, L., James, J., and Engstrom, P. (1993). Mammography adherence and psychological distress among women at risk for breast cancer. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 85: 1074–1080.
Lerman, C., Kash, K., and Stefanek, M. (1994). Younger women at increased risk for breast cancer: Perceived risk, psychological well-being, and surveillance behavior. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 16: 171–176.
Lerman, C., Schwartz, M. D., Miller, S. M., Daly, M., Sands, C., and Rimer, B. K. (1996). A randomized trial of breast cancer risk counseling: Interacting effects of counseling, educational level, and coping style. Health Psychol. 15: 75–83.
Lerman, C., Trock, B., Rimer, B. K., Boyce, A., Jepson, C., and Engstrom, P. F. (1991a). Psychological and behavioral implications of abnormal mammograms. Ann. Intern. Med. 114: 657–661.
Lerman, C., Trock, B., Rimer, B. K., Jepson, C., Brody, D., and Boyce, A. (1991b). Psychological side effects of breast cancer screening. Health Psychol. 10: 259–267.
McCaul, K. D., Branstetter, A. D., Schroeder, D. M., and Glasgow, R. E. (1996). What is the relationship between breast cancer risk and mammography screening?: A meta-analytic review. Health Psychol. 15: 423–429.
McCaul, K. D., Reid, P. A., Rathge, R. W., and Martinson, B. (1996). Does concern about breast cancer inhibit or promote breast cancer screening? Basic Appl. Soc. Psychol. 18: 183–194.
McCaul, K. D., Reid, P. A., and Schroeder, D. M. (1996). Breast cancer worry and screening: Some prospective data. Health Psychol. 15: 430–433.
Meyerowitz, B. E., and Chaiken, S. (1987). The effect of message framing on breast self-examination attitudes, intentions, and behavior. J. Person. Soc. Psychol. 52, 500–510.
Schag, C. C., and Heinrich, H. L. (1986). The impact of cancer on daily living: A comparison with cardiac patients and health controls. Rehab. Psychol. 31: 157–167.
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. C., and Lushene, R. F. (1970). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.
Stefanek, M. E., and Wilcox, P. (1991). First degree relatives of breast cancer patients: Screening practices and provision of risk information. Cancer Detect. Prevent. 15: 379–384.
Valdimarsdottir, H. B., Bovbjerg, D. H., Kash, K. M., Holland, J. C., Osborne, M. P., and Miller, D. G. (1995). Psychological distress in women with a familial risk of breast cancer. Psychooncology 4: 133–141.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McCaul, K.D., Branstetter, A.D., O'Donnell, S.M. et al. A Descriptive Study of Breast Cancer Worry. J Behav Med 21, 565–579 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018748712987
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018748712987