ABSTRACT
Varying perspectives exist regarding the implications of genetic susceptibility testing for common disease, with some anticipating
adverse effects and others expecting positive outcomes; however, little is known about the characteristics of people who are
most likely to be interested in direct-to-consumer genetic testing. To that end, this study examines the association of individual
dispositional differences with health risk perceptions and online information seeking related to a free genetic susceptibility
test. Healthy adults enrolled in a large health maintenance organization were surveyed by telephone. Eligible participants
(N = 1,959) were given access to a secure website that provided risk and benefit information about a genetic susceptibility
test and given the option to be tested. Neuroticism was associated with increased perceptions of disease risk but not with
logging on. Those scoring high in conscientiousness were more likely to log on. We found no evidence that neuroticism, a dispositional
characteristic commonly linked to adverse emotional response, was predictive of online genetic information seeking in this
sample of healthy adults.
adverse effects and others expecting positive outcomes; however, little is known about the characteristics of people who are
most likely to be interested in direct-to-consumer genetic testing. To that end, this study examines the association of individual
dispositional differences with health risk perceptions and online information seeking related to a free genetic susceptibility
test. Healthy adults enrolled in a large health maintenance organization were surveyed by telephone. Eligible participants
(N = 1,959) were given access to a secure website that provided risk and benefit information about a genetic susceptibility
test and given the option to be tested. Neuroticism was associated with increased perceptions of disease risk but not with
logging on. Those scoring high in conscientiousness were more likely to log on. We found no evidence that neuroticism, a dispositional
characteristic commonly linked to adverse emotional response, was predictive of online genetic information seeking in this
sample of healthy adults.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Research
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s13142-012-0159-y
- Authors
- Ryan S Paquin, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room B1B54, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Adam S Richards, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room B1B54, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Laura M Koehly, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room B1B54, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Colleen M McBride, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room B1B54, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Journal Translational Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1613-9860
- Print ISSN 1869-6716