The patient’s meaning of illness. The meaning-making model

Abstract

THE PATIENT’S MEANING OF ILLNESS. THE MEANING-MAKING MODEL

Aim. The article has a review character. The purpose of the article is to show the role, which, during the adaptation of the patient to serious illness process, is played by the way of its understanding associated with patient’s desires, beliefs, and life goals. The article presents the stress concept by Crystal Park and Susan Folkman called the meaning-making model. The model is a supplement of Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman’s transactional theory of stress.

Introduction. The meaning-making model is used to describe adaptation process of patients in the situation of illness seriously affecting the life. Illness and its treatment process can be for the patients a source of stress and emotional crisis. The transactional theory of stress and coping can explain the source of crisis if the dimension of meaning of illness is taken into consideration. In the meaning-making model, two levels of understanding are assumed: situational meaning, and generalized meaning (meaning of live). The discrepancy between the situational meaning and generalized meaning is the source of stress and emotional crisis. The article discusses the patient’s ways to cope focused on the creation of meaning, and the forms of changes in meaning of illness, and meaning of life. In conclusion, a short casuistic example is presented.