Anxiety and Perceptions of Health Risks as Related to a Family History of Life-threatening Illness
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Published: 2005
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DOWNLOAD EBOOKPeople close to someone with a serious illness are at increased risk for psychological distress. The purpose of the present study was to address the influences of a family history of life-threatening illness on an individual's anxiety level and perceptions of personal risk for developing an illness. 558 students completed questionnaires assessing general anxiety, health-specific anxiety, perception of risk for developing six serious illnesses, demographic variables, and family history of life-threatening illnesses. Eighty-one percent of the participants reported having at least one relative with a serious illness history. Results found higher general anxiety levels in females with a parental history of illness. Both males and females with a family history of illness perceived themselves at higher risk for developing an illness in their lifetime as compared to those without such a family history. Both males and females were more anxious if they reported a family history of breast cancer.