Health Psychology : a Textbook

The three illness-specific tasks can be described as:

1 Dealing with pain, incapacitation and other symptoms. This task involves dealing

with symptoms such as pain, dizziness, loss of control and the recognition of changes

in the severity of the symptoms.

2 Dealing with the hospital environment and special treatment procedures. This

task involves dealing with medical interventions such as mastectomy, chemotherapy

and any related side effects.

3 Developing and maintaining adequate relationships with health care staff.

Becoming ill requires a new set of relationships with a multitude of health

professionals. This task describes the development of those relationships.

The four general tasks can be described as:

Fig. 3-2 Coping with the crisis of illness

Illness-related tasks


Dealing with pain and other symptoms


Dealing with the hospital environment and treatment procedures


Developing and maintaining relationships with health professionals

General tasks


Preserving an emotional balance


Preserving self-image, competence and mastery


Sustaining relationships with family and friends


Preparing for an uncertain future

Table 3.1 Adaptive tasks

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