8 Flashcards
(164 cards)
What is illness behavior?
Actions taken by a person experiencing symptoms before a diagnosis is made.
What is sick role behavior?
Actions taken after diagnosis aimed at getting well, such as taking medication or resting.
Who are hypochondriacs?
People who misinterpret normal bodily symptoms as signs of illness.
How does neuroticism affect symptom reporting?
People with high neuroticism recognize and report symptoms more quickly and often exaggerate them.
How does age affect recognition of symptoms?
Older people report more symptoms and are more likely to interpret them as illness.
How does gender influence symptom reporting?
Women are more likely to report and seek treatment for symptoms than men.
What is meant by attentional differences in health behavior?
People focused on their bodies are more likely to notice symptoms than those distracted or busy.
How do situational factors influence symptom recognition?
Boring or low-stimulation environments increase symptom awareness, while busy ones decrease it.
What is ‘medical students’ disease’?
A condition where students believe they have the illnesses they are studying.
How does stress influence symptom experience?
Stress aggravates the experience of physical symptoms and may increase health anxiety.
How does mood affect symptom reporting?
People in a positive mood report fewer symptoms than those in a negative mood.
How do prior experiences influence interpretation of symptoms?
Past experiences with similar symptoms may lead people to dismiss or normalize new symptoms.
How do expectations influence symptom interpretation?
People may ignore unexpected symptoms and emphasize those they expect to experience.
How do socioeconomic and cultural factors affect symptom interpretation?
Cultural beliefs and financial constraints shape how people understand and respond to symptoms.
How does the perceived seriousness of a symptom affect behavior?
Symptoms affecting important body parts (e.g., eyes or chest) are taken more seriously.
What is the commonsense model of illness?
A psychological framework that explains how people form beliefs (schemas) about illness.
What does the ‘identity’ dimension of illness cognition refer to?
The label or name people assign to their illness.
What does the ‘consequences’ dimension of illness cognition refer to?
The expected symptoms, impact, and effects of the illness.
What does the ‘causes’ dimension of illness cognition refer to?
The beliefs people have about what caused their illness.
What does the ‘timeline’ dimension of illness cognition refer to?
Beliefs about how long the illness will last (short-term or chronic).
What does the ‘cure/control’ dimension of illness cognition refer to?
Beliefs about whether the illness can be cured or managed.
What does the ‘emotions’ dimension of illness cognition refer to?
Emotional responses and feelings associated with the illness.
What is an acute illness model?
A short-term illness, usually caused by a virus or bacteria, with no lasting effects.
What is a chronic illness model?
A long-term illness with ongoing symptoms and potential complications.