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Threat to Parental Role: A Possible Mechanism of Altered Self‐Concept Related to Carrier Knowledge
Author(s) -
McConkieRosell Allyn,
DeVellis Brenda M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1023/a:1009428328837
Subject(s) - mechanism (biology) , psychology , perception , self concept , psychological intervention , coping (psychology) , genetic counseling , social psychology , identity (music) , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , genetics , psychiatry , epistemology , biology , philosophy , physics , neuroscience , acoustics
Researchers and clinicians have suggested that learning one is a carrier for a genetic disorder has the potential to alter self‐concept. Concerns about self‐concept have influenced the development of policies regarding the availability of carrier testing for minors and the informed‐consent process. A literature review identified three mechanisms through which self‐concept has been proposed to be affected: altered perception of genetic identity, diminished social identity, and an altered perception of health. This paper presents a conceptual framework developed from identity theory and the “self's response to threat” to propose a fourth mechanism: threat to the parental role. Clarification of the role of self‐concept, the threat to self‐concept related to carrier knowledge, and coping behaviors activated in response to this threat would help to target appropriate genetic counseling interventions.