🔑 Key Definitions
Personal Control: Belief in ability to influence one's health outcomes
Self-Efficacy: Confidence in ability to perform specific health behaviors
Social Comparison: Evaluating oneself by comparing to others with similar conditions
Finding Meaning: Deriving purpose or benefit from illness experience
Self-Efficacy: Confidence in ability to perform specific health behaviors
Social Comparison: Evaluating oneself by comparing to others with similar conditions
Finding Meaning: Deriving purpose or benefit from illness experience
👤 Important Figures
- Albert Bandura - Developed self-efficacy theory
- Shelley Taylor - Cognitive adaptation theory
🧠 Coping Strategies for Chronic Illness
- Information Seeking: Learning about condition and treatment
- Active Coping: Taking direct action to manage illness
- Positive Reframing: Finding silver linings in situation
- Social Support Seeking: Reaching out for emotional/practical help
- Avoidant Coping: Denial, distraction (generally less effective long-term)
📊 Taylor's Cognitive Adaptation Theory
- Search for Meaning: "Why did this happen?"
- Mastery/Control: "What can I do about it?"
- Self-Enhancement: "I'm doing better than others"
🛠 Role of Social Support
- Emotional Support: Love, empathy, care
- Instrumental Support: Practical help (rides, meals)
- Informational Support: Advice and guidance
- Companionship: Shared activities
💡 Exam Tips
- Taylor's 3 themes: Meaning, Mastery, Self-Enhancement
- Bandura = Self-efficacy; Taylor = Cognitive Adaptation
- Active coping is generally MORE effective than avoidant coping for chronic illness
- Social support has FOUR types (emotional, instrumental, informational, companionship)
- Personal control is associated with BETTER adjustment outcomes