Research in nursing & health
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of three versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; American Sociological Association) in adults who had survived the death of a family member or significant other by suicide. Reliability and validity were examined. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assess dimensionality of the underlying constructs. ⋯ Two shorter versions retained good psychometric properties and demonstrated convergent and concurrent validity with measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and mental health quality of life. Factor analysis provided further evidence of their usefulness as brief and valid measures of perceived stress in acutely bereaved adult survivors of suicide. In a sub-sample of closely related survivors, the psychometric properties of the 4-item version of the PSS were retained.
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We examined the experience of 21 women diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer who received inconclusive BRCA1/2 genetic test results. Although these women received similar information on the technical meaning of an inconclusive result, their interpretations of personal risk for a probable, inherited cancer mutation differed. Their interpretations ranged from confidence that they probably carried an undetected gene mutation to believing that their cancer had no genetic basis. Women drew from their personal experience with genetic testing and from distinctive perceptions and beliefs in attempting to understand their test results; they variously drew upon such evidence as observations of similarities and differences within familial breast/ovarian cancer patterns to explain their ultimate conclusions as to their own genetic status.