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Genetics and alcoholism among at‐risk relatives I: Perceptions of cause, risk, and control
Author(s) -
Gamm Jennifer L.,
Nussbaum Robert L.,
Biesecker Barbara Bowles
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.30082
Subject(s) - fatalism , psychology , perception , affect (linguistics) , risk perception , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , philosophy , theology , communication , neuroscience
Genetic factors influence a person's risk for developing alcoholism. In other common disorders with a genetic component, a belief in a genetic cause can lead to less perceived control or fatalism among those at risk that may adversely affect undertaking health‐promoting behaviors. This study explores beliefs about the cause of alcoholism and risk perception among individuals with affected relatives. In‐depth interviews including both open‐ended questions and several quantitative measures were conducted with participants to explore the relationships between causal beliefs and perceptions of personal risk and control. Twenty‐seven individuals with at least one first‐degree relative affected with alcoholism participated. Transcript analysis of interviews revealed that all participants attribute multiple factors to the cause of alcoholism in their families, often as a combination of biological, genetic, environmental factors, and personal characteristics. Many perceived themselves as being ‘at‐risk,’ and this concern often stemmed from a belief in a genetic or biological cause of alcoholism. However, participants also had a strong sense of personal control, rooted in beliefs about environmental causes or personal characteristics influencing alcoholism risk. A participant's strong belief in a genetic cause was associated with a significantly increased risk perception, but not a fatalistic outlook towards developing alcoholism. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.