Journal
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Volume 42, Issue 6, Pages 401-408Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.03.002
Keywords
affect; behavioral medicine; behavioral sciences; breast cancer; health behavior; preventive health services; mental health; risk reduction behavior
Funding
- NCI NIH HHS [R21 CA098962, K05 CA92633, K07 CA98106] Funding Source: Medline
- NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE [K05CA092633, K07CA098106, R21CA098962] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Objective. Many women worry about the possibility of developing breast cancer, but there is conflicting evidence concerning whether cancer worry acts as a facilitator or inhibitor of breast cancer screening. Method. We conducted a meta-analysis of 12 prospective studies that measured worry about breast cancer at baseline and subsequent breast self-examination (BSE) or mammography utilization among 3342 high-risk and general population women. Results. The data consistently show that breast cancer worry has a small but reliable (r = 0.12) association with breast cancer screening behavior, such that greater worry predicts a greater likelihood of screening. We also found that the means for breast cancer worry were consistently in the lower third of the scales, despite differences in measurement approaches, sample utilization, or the date that the study was conducted. Conclusion. The meta-analysis supports the contention that breast cancer worry may motivate screening behavior, and that high levels of breast cancer worry are uncommon. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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