%0 Journal Article
%T Self-concept and health anxiety relate to psychological outcomes for BRCA1/2 carriers.
%A Butler E
%A Collier S
%A Boland M
%A Hanhauser Y
%A Connolly E
%A Hevey D
%J Psychooncology
%V 29
%N 10
%D 10 2020
%M 33463858
%F 3.955
%R 10.1002/pon.5483
%X Leventhal's common sense model of self-regulation highlights how specific beliefs about illness influence psychological outcomes. Little is known on how such beliefs relate to BRCA1/2 adjustment. Furthermore, beliefs about one's self-concept may be relevant to genetic conditions and may relate to psychological wellbeing.<BR>One-hundred and eighteen female BRCA1/2 carriers from an Irish University Hospital completed questionnaires for this cross-sectional study. Outcomes measured were state anxiety and physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Explanatory variables included sociodemographics, health anxiety, illness perceptions, coping and self-concept. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted.<BR>Then, 44% of participants had clinically significant state anxiety and 12% had clinically significant health anxiety. Vulnerability, stigma, mastery and health anxiety explained 42% of the variance in state anxiety. Previous mental health difficulty, vulnerability, stigma, mastery and health anxiety explained 40% of the variance in mental HRQOL. Dysfunctional coping strategies were strongly related to the physical functioning aspect of quality of life.<BR>BRCA-specific beliefs related to self and health anxiety are important factors to consider in the adjustment to BRCA1/2 confirmation.