The psychological impact of genetic testing in childhood cancer: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer predisposition syndromes are being more frequently recognized in the etiology of pediatric oncology and genetic-related technologies are evolving rapidly, leading to an increasing availability of genetic testing for families. This systematic review assessed the psychological impact of genetic testing on children and parents in the context of childhood cancer. METHODS: Searches were performed using three databases (Web of Science, Pubmed and Embase) to identify relevant empirical studies. Following Cochrane guidelines, we screened 3838 articles and identified 18 eligible studies, representing the perspectives of children and/or parents. RESULTS: The included studies described the impact of genetic testing in different contexts (e.g. predictive testing and diagnostic testing) and in different subgroups, (e.g. carriers and non-carriers). Overall, the studies did not identify clinically-relevant long-term increases in negative emotions (depression, anxiety, distress, uncertainty, guilt) as a result of genetic testing. Negative emotions were typically time-limited and generally occurred in families with particular characteristics (e.g. those with a history of multiple cancer diagnoses, families receiving an unfavorable result for one child and a favorable result in siblings, and those with pre-existing mental health difficulties). Positive emotions (hopefulness, relief and peace of mind) were also reported. Knowing their genetic risk status appeared to help to foster empowerment among families, regardless of the result and any associated emotions. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing in pediatric oncology does not appear to cause significant additional harm and can lead to positive outcomes. Clinicians need to be especially attentive when counseling families at increased risk of distress.

Prevalence and correlates of young people's sexual aggression perpetration and victimisation in 10 European countries: a multi-level analysis.

Data are presented on young people's sexual victimisation and perpetration from 10 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain) using a shared measurement tool (N = 3480 participants, aged between 18 and 27 years). Between 19.7 and 52.2% of female and between 10.1 and 55.8% of male respondents reported having experienced at least one incident of sexual victimisation since the age of consent. In two countries, victimisation rates were significantly higher for men than for women. Between 5.5 and 48.7% of male and 2.6 and 14.8% of female participants reported having engaged in a least one act of sexual aggression perpetration, with higher rates for men than for women in all countries. Victimisation rates correlated negatively with sexual assertiveness and positively with alcohol use in sexual encounters. Perpetration rates correlated positively with attitudes condoning physical dating violence and with alcohol use in men, and negatively with sexual assertiveness in women. At the country level, lower gender equality in economic power and in the work domain was related to higher male perpetration rates. Lower gender equality in political power and higher sexual assertiveness in women relative to men were linked to higher male victimisation rates.

Prevalence and Impact of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Among an Ethnic Minority Population.

The present study examined the prevalence of lifetime experiences of physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) among members of the Turkish ethnic minority population in Flanders. In addition, this study explored how lifetime IPV victimization affects ethnic minority victims' current mental, relational, and sexual well-being. Using a population-based representative sample, data from 392 adult Turkish women and men were investigated. Lifetime experiences of physical violence were reported by 14.3% of the Turkish respondents, while 66.0% reported at least one incidence of psychological abuse. Women were much more likely than men to report physical IPV victimization, but no gender differences were found for psychological IPV. With regard to the impact of IPV, it was found that lifetime IPV experiences do not appear to affect victims' current mental health. However, higher levels of physical and/or psychological IPV victimization were related to increased levels of relationship dissatisfaction, anxious and avoidant attachment orientations, sexual dissatisfaction, sexual dysfunction (with distress), and to decreased levels of sexual communication. These adverse relational and sexual outcomes of IPV victimization were mainly present among women but were also, to a lesser degree, relevant for men.