Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Many healthcare professionals are focusing their concerns on controlling symptoms and minimizing physical distress while failing to deal with the social and psychological factors related to living with long-term chronic illness. Ariela Royer makes an important contribution to the study of health and illness behavior by showing the various strategies chronically ill people use to manage their symptoms and overcome the consequences of their particular illness, so they can live the most normal life possible and maintain their self-esteem.

In spite of a popular belief linking chronic illness mainly to aging, most chronic problems extend across the life span. One of every seven men and one of every eight women between the ages of 17 and 44 are limited in their major activity, their ability to work, keep house or go to school, because of a chronic condition. At ages 65 and over, nearly three-fifths of men and two-fifths of women are handicapped. Dr. Royer shows various strategies the chronically ill may use to live with the uncertainty inherent in chronic illness. She also discusses how one might try to overcome or to minimize the salient social consequences of chronic illness, such as stigma and social isolation, in order to get on with their lives.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface
• Chronic Illness
• An Overview Characteristics and Consequences of Chronic Illness Uncertainty
• A Key Characteristic of Chronic Illness Stigma of Chronic Illness Social Isolation
• A Major Consequence Managing Chronic Illness
• Adaptation Adaptation as Distinguished from Coping Factors Influencing Adaptation Living with Chronic Illness
• Normalization Factors Affecting Normalization Behavioral Strategies of Normalization Cognitive Strategies of Normalization Crucial Dilemma for Chronically Ill Persons Struggle for Identity Needed Changes for Healthcare
• References
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This highly readable book captures the personal experience of chronic illness while effectively weaving important theoretical constructs throughout. Royer tells the story well and leads the reader to a greater understanding of the important research that frames this topic. She carefully notes the difference between documenting an individual's experience with chronic illness and reporting on illness as perceived by health care professionals. By doing so, she encompasses the many facets of life--work, play, and spiritual practice--that together represent quality of life. Thus the concept of chronic illness is expanded beyond the illness experience. The book is divided into four sections: "Characteristics and Consequences of Chronic Illness"; "Managing Chronic Illness: Adaptation"; "Living with Chronic Illness: Normalization"; and "A Crucial Dilemma for Chronically Ill Persons." In this last section, the author offers recommendations for improving health care delivery to persons with chronic conditions. Recommended. Undergraduates through professionals. M. Richardson; University of Washington

Author notes provided by Syndetics

ARIELA ROYER is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Indiana University South Bend. /e