Effects of bogus genetic feedback on subjective and physiological responses to acute stress

Recent advances in direct-to-consumer genetic testing have made individualized genetic risk feedback increasingly accessible, yet its psychological impact remains unclear. Initial findings suggest potential adverse outcomes, including increased worry and biased symptom reporting. Given that stress reactivity is partially heritable and a key risk factor for numerous stress-related conditions, understanding the influence of genetic feedback on stress reactivity is critical. In this study, we investigated how receiving bogus genetic feedback about stress vulnerability influences subjective, physiological, and cognitive responses to acute stress in 76 healthy participants undergoing the Trier Social Stress Test. Results confirmed successful participant deception and effective stress induction, as evidenced by subjective, endocrine, and cardiovascular stress markers. Participants informed of a genetic predisposition for high stress reactivity were more concerned and exhibited stronger restlessness directly after the negative feedback and following the stressor compared to control groups without this feedback. These results were specific to the stress vulnerability genetic feedback and were not observed in participants informed of an increased genetic risk for diabetes. In contrast, physiological stress responses and cognitive changes were not significantly affected. These findings demonstrate that genetic feedback alone can immediately induce concern and alter subjective responses to stress without corresponding physiological changes, suggesting that stress experience may be particularly prone to expectation effects following genetic risk information. Our results underscore the need for careful consideration of how genetic risk communication may shape stress-related health outcomes, and future research should explore the long-term consequences of genetic risk feedback.