Health Behavior, Illness Behavior, and Sick-Role Behavior

Abstract

THE FIRST part of this presentation began with definitions of the three kinds of health-related behavior. Health behavior is any activity undertaken by a person believing himself to be healthy, for the purpose of preventing disease or detecting it in an asymptomatic stage. Illness behavior is any activity, undertaken by a person who feels ill, to define the state of his health and to discover a suitable remedy. Sick-role behavior is the activity undertaken, for the purpose of getting well, by those who consider themselves ill. It includes receiving treatment from appropriate therapists, generally involves a whole range of dependent behaviors, and leads to some degree of neglect of one's usual duties.In the next step, a theoretical framework seeking to clarify behavioral accompaniments of changes in health was suggested. Within this framework, the changes in health and illness were seen from four levels of description: somatic health, behavior, role performance, ancl identity. Next, a theoretical model of action was proposed, which attempted to describe the important variables influencing health, illness, and sick-role behavior. The remainder of the paper was then concerned with reviewing studies of health and illness behavior so that the relevance and adequacy of the model of action could be evaluated. The focus of the present paper is on studies of sick-role behavior and the support they may provide for our theoretical framework.

Exploring Iranian women’s perceptions and experiences regarding cervical cancer-preventive behaviors

“…Preventive behaviors can be defined as behaviors expected for the prevention or early detection of diseases like cervical cancer at an asymptomatic stage [40]. These behaviors are not equally revealed among social groups.…”

“…However, studies have demonstrated that women who are in social class 5 (those most at risk of developing cervical cancer) are least likely to perform cervical cancer screening. Studies have also revealed that women who are not interested in screening may be older, have a lower salary, or come from a lower socioeconomic class than those who undergo a Pap test [40, 41]. …”

Financial Crises: Impact on Mental Health and Suggested Responses

“…Recent evidence from Spain confirms a significant relationship between socioeconomic determinants and mental illness, including a rise in somatoform disorders [36], among others. On a similar trajectory alluding to the theory behind somatoform disorders [37,38], Kentikelenis et al [16] reported that in Greece people view their health as ‘bad' or ‘very bad'. The same study reports on increased heroin use and associated physical morbidity.…”

Relationship between Adolescents’ Health Beliefs and Health Behavior

“…2 The need to maintain positive health behavior has become a subject matter of exploration by social and behavioral scientists during the last few decades. Kasl and Cobb 3 have conceptualized three categories of health behavior -'preventive health behavior' which implies any action taken by a healthy individual for the purpose of preventing or detecting illness; 'illness behavior' which implies that an individual, who perceives himself to be ill, takes up remedial measure to get healthy and 'Sick-role behavior' which refers to an action taken by an individual who considers himself to be ill, for the purpose of getting well.…”