| Title |
‘Battling my Biology’: Psychological Effects of Genetic Testing for Risk of Weight Gain
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Journal of Genetic Counseling, July 2013
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s10897-013-9628-9 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
S. F. Meisel, J. Wardle |
| Abstract |
The availability of genetic tests for multifactorial conditions such as obesity raises concerns that higher-risk results could lead to fatalistic reactions or lower-risk results to complacency. No study has investigated the effects of genetic test feedback for the risk of obesity in non-clinical samples. The present study explored psychological and behavioral reactions to genetic test feedback for a weight related gene (FTO) in a volunteer sample (n = 18) using semi-structured interviews. Respondents perceived the gene test result as scientifically objective; removing some of the emotion attached to the issue of weight control. Those who were struggling with weight control reported relief of self-blame. There was no evidence for either complacency or fatalism; all respondents emphasized the importance of lifestyle choices in long-term weight management, although they recognized the role of both genes and environment. Regardless of the test result, respondents evaluated the testing positively and found it motivating and informative. Genetic test feedback for risk of weight gain may offer psychological benefits beyond its objectively limited clinical utility. As the role of genetic counselors is likely to expand, awareness of reasons for genetic testing for common, complex conditions and reactions to the test result is important. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 19 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 9 | 47% |
| Canada | 2 | 11% |
| United States | 1 | 5% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 1 | 5% |
| Spain | 1 | 5% |
| Unknown | 5 | 26% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 13 | 68% |
| Scientists | 3 | 16% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 3 | 16% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 56 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 55 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 20% |
| Student > Master | 10 | 18% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 13% |
| Student > Bachelor | 4 | 7% |
| Student > Postgraduate | 4 | 7% |
| Other | 12 | 21% |
| Unknown | 8 | 14% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 11 | 20% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 7 | 13% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 5 | 9% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 5 | 9% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 4 | 7% |
| Other | 14 | 25% |
| Unknown | 10 | 18% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 99. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 02 December 2015.
All research outputs
#356,996
of 22,713,403 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Genetic Counseling
#6
of 1,141 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#2,665
of 194,293 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Genetic Counseling
#1
of 18 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 22,713,403 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 98th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 1,141 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 5.9. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 194,293 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 98% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 18 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 94% of its contemporaries.