Lisa G. Aspinwall
· Professor, Social Area Coordinator, Social Psychology, Health PsychologyUniversity of Utah · Psychology
Active 1989–2026
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About
Professor Lisa G. Aspinwall's research focuses on the motivational and behavioral impact of genetic testing for familial cancer, particularly melanoma. Her work aims to improve cancer outcomes through prevention and early detection by studying how predictive genetic testing influences health behaviors and psychological outcomes. She has conducted pioneering prospective studies examining the effects of melanoma genetic testing on prevention and screening behaviors, distinguishing responses based on mutation status and melanoma history within families. Her findings demonstrate that unaffected family members who test positive for melanoma genetic mutations improve their prevention and screening behaviors to levels comparable to those diagnosed with the disease, with sustained benefits and no increase in psychological distress. These results have contributed to the development of international melanoma genetic testing guidelines. In the NCI-funded BRIGHT Project, Professor Aspinwall investigates whether receiving a genetic test result provides unique informational and motivational benefits beyond counseling based on family history alone, finding that positive test results enhance motivation to reduce sun exposure without increasing psychological distress or cancer worry. In addition to her work on adult populations, Professor Aspinwall collaborates with colleagues to develop family-focused interventions aimed at reducing sun exposure and promoting screening among children and…
Research topics
- Medicine
- Clinical psychology
- Psychiatry
- Internal medicine
- Psychology
- Pathology
- Developmental psychology
- Genetics
- Social psychology
- Nursing
Selected publications
Translational Behavioral Medicine · 2018-01-29 · 20 citations
articleOpen access1st authorCorrespondingA CDKN2A/p16 mutation confers 28%-67% lifetime melanoma risk, a risk that may be moderated by ultraviolet radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to test whether melanoma genetic counseling and test disclosure conferred unique informational, motivational, or emotional benefits compared to family history-based counseling. Participants included were 114 unaffected members of melanoma-prone families, ages 16-69, 51.8% men, 65.8% with minor children or grandchildren. Carriers (n = 28) and nonc…
Barriers and Facilitators to Melanoma Prevention and Control Behaviors Among At-Risk Children
Journal of Community Health · 2018-04-06 · 19 citations
articleOpen accessPediatric Dermatology · 2019-03-20 · 18 citations
articleOpen accessBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Children with an elevated familial risk for melanoma inconsistently implement sun protection behaviors that could mitigate their melanoma risk. Little is known about perceived barriers to child sun protection among this at-risk group and their parents, and the extent to which perceived barriers are associated with child sun protection. The goal of this study was to examine, among children with a family history of melanoma, the frequency with which children and their parent…
Journal of Genetic Counseling · 2018-01-19 · 16 citations
articleOpen accessAbstract Genetic testing of minors is advised only for conditions in which benefits of early intervention outweigh potential psychological harms. This study investigated whether genetic counseling and test reporting for the CDKN2A/p16 mutation, which confers highly elevated melanoma risk, improved sun protection without inducing distress. Eighteen minors ( M age = 12.4, SD = 1.9) from melanoma‐prone families completed measures of protective behavior and distress at baseline, 1 week (distress onl…
Resilience to stress-related sleep disturbance: Examination of early pandemic coping and affect.
Health Psychology · 2022 · 14 citations
OBJECTIVE: Stress associated with global health threats such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related containment efforts may be associated with significant sleep disruption. Stress-related sleep disturbance is an established transdiagnostic risk factor; thus, identifying associations with coping strategies may inform future intervention efforts. The current study examined secondary control-oriented coping strategies, including positive reappraisal, which may be particular…
Recent grants
Impact of Melanoma Genetic Testing on Health Cognitions and Prevention Behaviors
NIH · $2.5M · 2011–2018
Frequent coauthors
- 55 shared
Sancy A. Leachman
Oregon Health & Science University
- 28 shared
Wendy Kohlmann
University of Utah
- 21 shared
Jennifer M. Taber
- 20 shared
Shelley E. Taylor
General Electric (United States)
- 19 shared
Yelena P. Wu
University of Utah
- 19 shared
Samantha L. Leaf
ISA Associate
- 17 shared
Tammy K. Stump
Huntsman Cancer Institute
- 14 shared
Melinda González Concepción
Complejo Hospitalario de Ourense
Labs
Education
- 1990
Ph.D., Psychology
The University of Utah
- 1986
M.S., Psychology
The University of Utah
- 1983
B.A., Psychology
University of California, Santa Barbara
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