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‘Well, I knew this already’ – explaining personal genetic risk information through narrative meaning‐making
Author(s) -
Snell Karoliina,
Helén Ilpo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9566.13018
Subject(s) - meaning (existential) , narrative , psychology , personally identifiable information , object (grammar) , social psychology , psychotherapist , computer science , artificial intelligence , linguistics , philosophy , computer security
This article presents results from a Finnish focus group's study conducted among participants of a project called Gene RISK , in which the participants received a personal risk score for having a cardiovascular event based on genetic analysis, lifestyle and laboratory results. In the discussions, interpretations of the genetic risk score and its meaning were incorporated into personal narratives of health and illness. We argue that instead of serving as an explanation for health and illness, which can help guide people's lives and choices, the genetic risk information became an object of explanation. Therefore, the risk information did not create new conceptions of personal risk, nor did it generate enough power to push people to change their lifestyles. Instead, the risk information was used to strengthen the existing impression of personal risk and the narrative of personal health and illness.