Lay Beliefs

Question 1

What are lay beliefs

Answer 1

How people understand and make sense of health and illness

Constructed by people with no specialised knowledge

Not watered-down version of medical knowledge

Socially embedded

Complex- drawn from many different sources

Question 2

Negative definition of health

Answer 2

Health equates to the absence of illness- nothing diagnosed, low socioeconomic background

Question 3

Functional definition of health

Answer 3

Health is the ability to do certain things

Varies from person to person

Older people

Question 4

Positive definition of health

Answer 4

Health is a state of wellbeing and fitness

Things that can be achieved

High socioeconomic background

Question 5

What are the 5 types of work relating to having a chronic illness?

Answer 5

illness work 
everyday life work
identity work 
emotional work 
biographical work

Question 6

what is illness work?

Answer 6

Coping and dealing with the physical manifestations of the illness, might
include changes in self-conception due to bodily changes, etc

Question 7

what is everyday life work?

Answer 7

Actions and processes involved in managing the condition and its
impact. In its essence, it refers to the daily tasks one may complete to keep household
going.

Question 8

identity work

Answer 8

: Establishment and maintenance of an acceptable identity. Example to
explain the concept better : A woman with RA makes sure she is happy and cheerful when
her family visits even when she is in a lot of pain, just because she doesn’t want to worry
them.

Question 9

emotional work

Answer 9

The work people do to protect the emotional well-being of others

Question 10

biographical work

Answer 10

Interaction between the body and identity necessitated by the
continual or occasional reconstruction of his/her life. Example : patient attempts to
reconnect with their life prior to diagnosis with the present/future (suddenly taking a keener
interest in sports, reestablishing past friendship groups, etc)