COPING WITH THREAT - IMPLICATIONS FOR WOMEN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST-CANCER

The study aims to determine whether there are differences in coping wi th the threat of breast cancer between women with a family history of such cancer and those with no such history. The sample consisted of 93 women who have a family history of breast cancer and 142 women who do not have such a history (each group divided into four subgroups), all of whom were referred to a breast health clinic in northern Israel. P sychological distress was measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory pers onal coping resources were measured by the Sense of Coherence scale, r ite coping process was measured by the Health Opinion Survey, and the denial mechanism was measured by denial scales. The results showed tha t women at high risk for breast cancer who came to the clinic for a re gular checkup and who had a symptom showed more symptoms of psychologi cal distress than any of the other groups, The establishment of specia l clinics for women with a family history of breast cancer is recommen ded to provide counseling in coping skills in addition to medical exam inations.