| Abstract: | Compared 292 undergraduates' reports of their parents' and grandparents' histories of 6 medical disorders (atherosclerosis, heart attack, hypertension, kidney disease, migraine headaches, and stroke) with the parents' reports. Ss also completed measures assessing frequency of contact with parents, comfort in discussing health matters with parents, and importance of health to Ss; Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale; and the Health Locus of Control Scale. Results show moderate agreement concerning the parents' health, especially when reports were negative, but substantial disagreement concerning the grandparents' health. Demographic and personality variables did not predict accuracy of Ss' reports of parental hypertension, the most frequently reported disorder. Among the disorders, differences in agreement of reporting arose; the most salient condition, heart attack, had the highest agreement for both parents and grandparents. Results suggest that caution is necessary in evaluating family health information from Ss in research and from target individuals in prevention programs. (45 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
