"In this together": Social identification predicts health outcomes (via self-efficacy) in a chronic disease self-management program.
Soc Sci Med
; 208: 172-179, 2018 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29598988
ABSTRACT
RATIONALE Self-management programs are an established approach to helping people cope with the challenges of chronic disease, but the psychological mechanisms underlying their effectiveness are not fully understood. A key assumption of self-management interventions is that enhancing people's self-efficacy (e.g., via the development of relevant skills and behaviours) encourages adaptive health-related behaviors and improved health outcomes. However, the group-based nature of the programs allows for the possibility that identification with other program members is itself a social psychological platform for positive changes in illness-related confidence (i.e., group-derived efficacy) and physical and mental health. METHOD:
The researchers evaluated this hypothesis in a telehealth version of a chronic disease self-management program delivered in 13 rural and remote communities in northern Ontario, Canada (September 2007 to June 2008). Participants were 213 individuals with a self-reported physician diagnosis of chronic lung disease, heart disease, stroke, or arthritis. Measures of social identification, group-derived efficacy, and individual efficacy were administered seven weeks after baseline, and mental and physical health outcomes (health distress, psychological well-being, depression, vitality, pain, role limits, and disability) were assessed at four months.RESULTS:
Structural equation modeling indicated that social identification was a positive predictor of group-derived efficacy and (in turn) individual self-efficacy (controlling for baseline), which was significantly associated with better physical and mental health outcomes.CONCLUSION:
The results are consistent with growing evidence of the value of a social identity-based approach in various health and clinical settings. The success of chronic disease self-management programs could be enhanced by attending to and augmenting group identification during and after the program.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Autocuidado
/
Identificação Social
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Doença Crônica
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Autoeficácia
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Soc Sci Med
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article