The genetics revolution may have a significant impact on the perception and treatment of people with illnesses that have genetic bases, particularly conditions, such as mental illnesses, that are highly stigmatized. One area that our preliminary data suggest may be impacted is attitudes toward marriage and reproduction: when a mental illness is understood to be influenced by genetics, people are less willing to accept that the ill person marry and have children. However, new information about genetics arrives in a socio-cultural context in which its impact may vary depending on existing cultural values and beliefs of different groups within society. One important socio-cultural modifier of this impact may be ethnicity. Research has documented ethnic differences in conceptions of mental illness and experience of caregiving burden. This paper addressed the following questions: Are there ethnic differences in willingness to accept marriage and reproduction for a person with mental illness? Does ethnicity modify the impact of a genetic attribution on these attitudes? Our study involves semi-structured interviews with 100 persons (Phase 1), and a nationally representative telephone survey with 1138 persons (Phase 2). Five ethnic groups are represented: Chinese, African, Mexican and European-Americans and Puerto Ricans. In each phase, we describe hypothetical individuals with mental illnesses and assess attitudes toward the individual, including attitudes about marriage and reproduction. We hope that an understanding of ethnic differences affecting the impact of genetic information will help create new ways to introduce information about genetics and develop educational programs to assess the needs of people.
Learning Objectives: We want to achieve an understanding of ethnic differences affecting the impact of genetic information on areas of marriage and reproduction of people with mental illness. This information will help us create new ways to introduce information about genetics and develop educational programs to better assess the needs of people in our society.
Keywords: Ethnicity, Genetics
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