Conceptions of illness in young adolescents

Abstract

This study examined conceptions of illness in young adolescents. A group of 77 urban junior high school students aged 11 to 15 years were asked for their definitions of illness. Themes occurring in definitions of illness were identified and coded according to a previously developed coding scheme. Evidence in support of a developmental process underlying conceptions of illness was found by examining adolescents' definitions and comparing them with child and adult norms established in prior research. Results for adolescents showed the frequency of use of specific themes to fall between child and adult norms. The strongest evidence in support of a developmental trend was seen in definitions of illness pertaining to changes in daily activities. However, the relative frequency of adolescents' definitions was more like that of children than adults, indicating that whereas adolescents used a greater frequency of adult-like themes, they did so within a framework more descriptive of children. Qualitative aspects of definitions of illness showed age-linked differences with adolescents generating more adult-like, conceptually sophisticated definitions than children. In addition to developmental differences, similarities in definitions of illness were also found; among all age groups the most common delineators of illness were physical symptoms. Psychosocial themes were less frequently mentioned. Clinicians who discuss with their adolescent patients the ways in which illness affects social interaction may be communicating more effectively than practitioners who focus solely on signs and symptoms of physical disease.