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The role of constructed meaning in adaptation to the onset of life-threatening illness

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  • Fife, Betsy L.

Abstract

Do the meanings inherent within a traumatic life event increase our understanding of differential mental health outcomes? In light of this question two central issues are addressed in this article: (1) what variables influence the meaning that is constructed in response to a crisis, and (2) how does this meaning affect the self and ultimately the adaptation/mental health outcome as indicated by the level of emotional distress? A theoretical model is evaluated via a comparative analysis that incorporates the data of 76 persons with cancer and 130 persons with HIV/AIDS. Three primary findings support this model and the significance of the role of meaning in response to a crisis: (1) the meaning constructed in response to a crisis can be operationalized and its role evaluated as a dimension of the adaptation process, (2) evidence indicates constructed meaning affects self-perception, which subsequently affects adaptation, and (3) the pattern of effects does not differ by illness type since analyses indicate meaning is central to individuals' responses regardless of differences in characteristics of the event.

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  • Fife, Betsy L., 2005. "The role of constructed meaning in adaptation to the onset of life-threatening illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(10), pages 2132-2143, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:61:y:2005:i:10:p:2132-2143
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Schüssler, Gerhard, 1992. "Coping strategies and individual meanings of illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 427-432, February.
    2. Folkman, Susan, 1997. "Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 45(8), pages 1207-1221, October.
    3. Fife, Betsy L., 1994. "The conceptualization of meaning in illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 309-316, January.
    4. Fife, Betsy L., 1995. "The measurement of meaning in illness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 40(8), pages 1021-1028, April.
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    3. Rezvan Ameli & Ninet Sinaii & María José Luna & Julia Cheringal & Brunilde Gril & Ann Berger, 2018. "The National Institutes of Health measure of Healing Experience of All Life Stressors (NIH-HEALS): Factor analysis and validation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Małgorzata Sobol & Marcin Zajenkowski & Konrad S. Jankowski, 2022. "Religious Fundamentalism, Delusions, and Conspiracy Beliefs Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-6, August.
    5. Malpass, Alice & Shaw, Alison & Sharp, Debbie & Walter, Fiona & Feder, Gene & Ridd, Matthew & Kessler, David, 2009. ""Medication career" or "Moral career"? The two sides of managing antidepressants: A meta-ethnography of patients' experience of antidepressants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 154-168, January.

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