Coping With the Spectre of Cardiac Mortality
The Role of Genetic Testing
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5659504 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stefan Timmerman (0000-0002-4751-2893, Department of Sociology UCLA Los Angeles California USA), Will Schupmann (0000-0002-5937-8118, Department of Sociology UCLA Los Angeles California USA), Ruth Kaufman (0000-0001-8535-9730), Rebecca Kaufman (Department of Sociology UCLA Los Angeles California USA), A E Raz (0000-0001-6268-0409, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Aviad Raz (0000-0001-9794-5470, Department of Sociology Ben Gurion University Beersheba Israel) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | e70107-e70107 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/1467-9566.70107 |
| PMID | 41089045 |
| OpenAlex | W4415243616 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
A diagnosis of cardiovascular disease increases death awareness by raising the possibility of sudden death. Engaging sociological literature on patient experiences with terror management theory, we examine how patients diagnosed with cardiac disease turn to online communities to interpret the possibility of cardiac death. Drawing on 33 semi-structured interviews with individuals diagnosed with a cardiac condition and who have undergone genetic testing as part of its diagnosis or treatment, we find that respondents turn to biomedicine in the hope that medical interventions will prevent or postpone death. Respondents were motivated by anxiety to opt in genetic testing even if the results were unlikely to change diagnosis, treatment or prognosis. Genetic testing reinforced a biomedical world view where medical care can optimise the quality of life through prevention, including for their relatives. Their biological kin, however, refused to undergo genetic testing in absence of a cardiac diagnosis
Aging and Gerontology Research · Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging · Resilience and Mental Health
Data Analysis in Qualitative Research
Summoned
Spare Parts
Low Health Literacy and Evaluation of Online Health Information
Counselling uncertainty
Putting a Name to It
Effects of Online Health Sources on Credibility and Behavioral Intentions
Genomic designation
The Spillover of Genomic Testing Results in Families
While there's life
Exploring genetic responsibility for the self, family and kin in the case of hereditary raised cholesterol
Making genetics not so important
After geneticization
Genetic testing and family entanglements
Electronic Support Groups, Patient-Consumers, and Medicalization
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |