Living with a Chronic Disease: Healing and Psychological Adjustment in Indian Society

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between cultural beliefs about illness and psychological adjustment to a chronic disease. The findings of five studies were metaanalysed. In all these studies hospital patients suffering from various types of health problems were interviewed at different points in time and measures were used to assess their psychological adjustment. The findings revealed that patients' in Indian hospitals consistently attributed their illness to karma and God's will. These cosmic beliefs were found to influence patients' treatment re lated decisions. However, no consistent linkages were unravelled between pa tients' illness beliefs and their psychological adjustment. It was conjectured that these cosmic beliefs acquire different symbolic meaning when illness and social context change. The paper argues for an integrated health care system combin ing the strengths of traditional healing and biomedical practices.

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