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

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.

Abstract

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.