Psychological functioning in African American women at an increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

Despite attention to psychological issues during genetic counselling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk, limited information is available on cancer-specific distress among African American women being targeted for participation in counselling and testing. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine cancer-specific distress in African American women at an increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and to identify factors having significant associations with distress in this population. Respondents were 141 African American women identified for participation in genetic counselling and testing for BRCA1/2 mutations. Overall, respondents reported moderate levels of cancer-specific distress. Younger age (coefficient = 6.0, p = 0.001), being unemployed (coefficient = -5.0, p = 0.01), and having a personal history of cancer (coefficient = 5.0, p = 0.02) had significant associations with intrusion. Younger age was also associated significantly with greater avoidance (r = 6.0, p = 0.02). These results suggest that African American women aged 50 and younger, those who are unemployed and women with a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer may be the most vulnerable to experiencing elevated levels of distress during genetic counselling and testing. Greater attention to psychological issues, including concerns about cancer and cancer risks, may be needed during genetic counselling and testing for BRCA1/2 mutations with these women.