it will last); (4) cause (e.g. caused by smoking, caused by a virus); and (5) cure/control
(e.g. requires medical intervention). This chapter examined these dimensions of illness
cognitions and assessed how they relate to the way in which an individual responds to
illness via their coping and their appraisal of the illness. Further, it has described the
self-regulatory model and its implications for understanding and predicting health
outcomes.ASSUMPTIONS IN HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
The literature examining illness cognitions highlights some of the assumptions in health
psychology:1 Humans as information processors. The literature describing the structure of ill-
ness cognitions assumes that individuals deal with their illness by processing the
different forms of information. In addition, it assumes that the resulting cognitions
are clearly defined and consistent across different people. However, perhaps the
information is not always processed rationally and perhaps some cognitions are made
up of only some of the components (e.g. just time line and cause), or made up of other
components not included in the models.
2 Methodology as separate to theory. The literature also assumes that the structure
of cognitions exists prior to questions about these cognitions. Therefore, it is assumed
that the data collected are separate from the methodology used (i.e. the different
components of the illness cognitions pre-date questions about time line, causality,
cure, etc.). However, it is possible that the structure of these cognitions is in part
an artefact of the types of questions asked. In fact, Leventhal originally argued that
interviews should be used to access illness cognitions as this methodology avoided
‘contaminating’ the data. However, even interviews involve the interviewer’s own? QUESTIONS
1 How do people make sense of health and illness?
2 Discuss the relationship between illness cognitions and coping.
3 Why is Leventhal’s model ‘self-regulatory’?
4 Discuss the role of symptom perception in adapting to illness.
5 Illusions are a central component of coping with illness. Discuss.
6 Illness cognitions predict health outcomes. Discuss.
7 Design a research project to evaluate the role of coping in adaptation to illness.FOR DISCUSSION
Think about the last time you were ill (e.g. headache, flu, broken limb, etc.). Consider
the ways in which you made sense of your illness and how they related to your
coping strategies.72 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY