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Journal of Health Psychology
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Understanding Life's Lottery

An Evaluation of Studies of Genetic Risk Awareness

Nina Hallowell

University of Cambridge, UK

Martin P.M. Richards

University of Cambridge, UK

This article reviews studies of risk awareness of carriers of genetic disorders and individuals who attend genetic counselling. It focuses upon investigations of recall of risk estimates following counselling. Six factors are discussed which may influence individuals' recall of genetic risk estimates. These include: mode of genetic transmission, counsellees' reproductive behaviour or intentions, time delay between counselling and data collection, prior familiarity with the disorder, subjective perceptions of risk, and the way that risk information is presented during counselling. It is argued that using counsellees' recall of genetic risk estimates as a measure of the effectiveness of counselling is problematic, both at a methodological and conceptual level. It is suggested that assessments of the effectiveness of genetic counselling must involve an approach which conceptualizes counselling as a dynamic process in which both counsellee and counsellor have active roles to play.

Key Words: genetic counselling, methodology • risk awareness, risk recall

Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 2, No. 1, 31-43 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/135910539700200104
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