Monitoring and blunting are coping styles that characterize how people respond when faced with personally threatening situations. High monitors tend to pay more attention to, scan for, and amplify threatening cues; high blunters tend to avoid information and seek distractions when faced with a threatening event. This study sought to investigate possible differential effects of monitoring and blunting coping styles on information preferences in a hypothetical cancer diagnosis scenario in the adult general public of Minnesota. In a survey administered at a large public venue (2016 Minnesota State Fair), participants were asked to imagine they carried a gene mutation and were diagnosed with colon cancer. They indicated their information preference [modified Cassileth Information Styles Questionnaire (MCISQ)], completed two coping style measures [Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS) and Threatening Medical Situations Inventory (TMSI)], rated their perceived severity of colon cancer (low, moderate, high), and answered demographic questions. Eight hundred fifty‐five individuals provided usable data. Participants classified as monitors on the TMSI had significantly higher MCISQ scores (i.e., preferred more information) than those classified as blunters (p = .004). Those scoring high on monitoring and low on blunting on the MBSS preferred significantly more information than those scoring high on both monitoring and blunting (p = .04). Linear regression analysis revealed being a monitor (TMSI), scoring high on monitoring (MBSS), rating colon cancer as more severe, and having a higher education level were significant positive predictors of MCISQ scores. Results suggest individual differences in coping style, perceived severity, and education level affect desire for information. Genetic counselors should consider these patient characteristics (e.g., asking patients about their information preferences) and tailor their approaches accordingly.

中文翻译：

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在假设的癌症诊断场景中，监测与钝化对公众对信息偏好的影响

监控和迟钝是表征人们在面对个人威胁情况时如何反应的应对方式。高监控者往往更关注、扫描和放大威胁线索；当面对威胁性事件时，高度直率的人倾向于回避信息并寻求分心。本研究旨在调查在明尼苏达州成人普通公众的假设癌症诊断场景中，监测和钝化应对方式对信息偏好的可能不同影响。在大型公共场所（2016 年明尼苏达州博览会）进行的一项调查中，参与者被要求想象他们携带基因突变并被诊断出患有结肠癌。他们表明了他们的信息偏好[修改后的卡西莱斯信息风格问卷（MCISQ）]，完成了两项应对方式测量 [Miller 行为方式量表 (MBSS) 和威胁医疗情况量表 (TMSI)]，评估他们感知的结肠癌严重程度（低、中、高），并回答人口统计问题。855 个人提供了可用数据。在 TMSI 上被归类为监视器的参与者的 MCISQ 分数（即，更喜欢更多的信息）明显高于被归类为笨拙的参与者（p  = .004）。那些在 MBSS 中监测得分高而钝化得分低的人比那些在监测和钝化方面得分高的人更喜欢更多的信息 ( p  = .04)。线性回归分析显示，作为监测者（TMSI）、监测评分高（MBSS）、结肠癌更严重、教育水平较高是 MCISQ 评分的显着正预测因子。结果表明，应对方式、感知严重程度和教育水平的个体差异会影响对信息的渴望。遗传咨询师应该考虑这些患者的特征（例如，询问患者的信息偏好）并相应地调整他们的方法。