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BRIDGING THE GAP: THE ROLE OF EMOTION IN MAMMOGRAPHY USAGE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN Principal
Investigator: Mary Lou Adams, PhD, RN; The complex challenges in promoting mammography use require that barriers to early detection be precisely identified so that interventions can be appropriately tailored to different population subgroups. While previous research has identified several barriers to African-American women's use of mammography screening, there is a paucity of research that addresses the role of emotion in influencing African American women's beliefs, attitudes and behaviors associated with mammography screening. In part, the predominant models used in the study of breast cancer screening (the Health Belief Model and the Transtheoretical Model) either minimize or cannot accommodate the construct of emotion. However, evidence suggests that women's feelings and emotions regarding breast cancer screening are an important area warranting further study. The research study is exploratory work to investigate whether a better understanding of women's fears and other emotions may influence their response to breast-cancer screening interventions. The purpose is to explore the emotions that underlie women's perceptions toward mammography screening. The specific aims are (1) to identify the emotions related to African American women's breast cancer screening behavior; (2) to refine an instrument that can be used to assess emotional response for this population concerning this issue; and (3) to begin to identify individual differences that may be relevant to African American women's breast cancer screening behavior. STATUS: Ongoing through 5/2002 You may read an article that relates to this study in the following publication. Adams, M. M., Becker, H. B., & Colbert, A. (2001). African American women's perception of mammography screening. Journal of National Black Nurses Association, 12 (2), 44-48.
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