Gender Differences in Psychosocial and Medical Outcomes Stemming From Testing Positive for the BRCA1/2 Genetic Mutation for Breast Cancer: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study

• Published in: Journal of mixed methods research 2018-07, Vol.12 (3), p.280-304
• Main Author: Hesse-Biber, Sharlene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast cancer; Cancer; Decision Making; Family Structure; Gender Differences; Genetic Disorders; Genetic testing; Health Behavior; Help seeking behavior; Hypothesis Testing; Internet; Medical decision making; Medicine; Mixed Methods Research; Mutation; Online Surveys; Prevention; Psychological Patterns; Psychosocial factors; Research methodology; Screening Tests; Semi Structured Interviews; Surgery; Womens health
• ISSN: 1558-6898; 1558-6901
• DOI: 10.1177/1558689816655257

This quantitatively driven sequential mixed methods study articulates the role of theory in mixed methods research and assesses the contribution of a mixed methods design to examining gender differences in men and women’s genetic testing decisions and the psychosocial factors impacting health-seeking behaviors post-testing. A quantitative online survey of BRCA-positive mutation men and women was followed by a qualitative component consisting of semi-structured telephone interviews regarding genetic testing and post-testing decision making. Findings reveal gender differences in testing motivations: women focus on health; men focus on their family’s needs. Gender differences also appeared in psychological states and surgical decisions, revealing women’s more negative psychosocial reactions to a positive BRCA test result and higher rate of selecting preventative surgery.