To test or not to test? Moderators of the relationship between risk perceptions and interests in predictive genetic testing

Most theories of health behavior assert that higher perceived vulnerability to a disease (perceived risk) is positively related to intentions to perform protective actions. However, empirical findings on this issue are mixed. Specifically, risk perceptions were found to be sometimes positively and sometimes negatively related to health screening behaviors. An empirical study, investigating the moderating effects of motivations on the relationships between risk perceptions and intentions to perform medical testing is presented. We hypothesized that among individuals who are mainly motivated to get reassurance of their good health, the risk-intention correlation would be negative, while among those motivated to prevent disease, the correlation would be positive. These hypotheses have been tested with regard to predictive genetic testing for breast cancer. The sample included healthy female participants. A battery of questionnaires was used, measuring risk perceptions, behavioral intentions, and motivations to perform testing. The findings support our predictions, and may help resolve a theoretical confusion about the relationship between perceived risk and intended health behavior, and suggest practical implications regarding psycho-educationaland clinical aspects of offering medical screening tests to the public.