Purpose: Affect influences decision making by affective evaluations during decision making (Slovic et al 2002) or anticipating emotional reactions to consequences of decisions (Mellers et al 1999), and may have a greater impact on risk-taking behavior than cognitive evaluations. The aim of the present study is to establish the effects of cognitive and affective evaluations as well as anticipated emotions on pregnant women’s decisions about prenatal screening for Down syndrome, a complex and emotional decision.
Method: 1650 women attending one of 44 midwifery and gynecology practices in the Netherlands were asked to fill out postal questionnaires before and after the prenatal screening offer. Measures included cognitive variables (perceived probability and perceived severity of getting a child with Down syndrome), affective variables (child-related anxiety, emotions related to decision making) and a measure of anticipating emotions (“I imagined how I would feel if I take / do not take the test”).
Result: Logistic regression analysis on women’s decision to have a screening test showed that pregnant women’s decisions are mainly determined by perceived severity of having a child with Down syndrome, emotions related to making the decision and the anticipation of emotions as a consequence of not taking the test. Perceived probability of having a child with Down syndrome as well as anticipated emotions of taking the test did not affect women’s decisions.
Conclusion: The decision about prenatal screening is mainly determined by emotions during decision making as well as the anticipated emotions as a consequence of not doing the test.
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