Talking with others about stigmatized health conditions: implications for managing symptoms.
We investigated the influence of social ties on symptom management and help seeking, using urinary symptoms as a case study. Talking with others about these symptoms was common and both facilitated and hindered symptom management and help seeking. In some cases, talking with others resulted in gaining a sense of identification with others suffering the same symptoms, receiving assistance to ease the burden of symptoms, obtaining suggestions to help manage symptoms, and learning information about available treatments. In other cases, talking with others served to normalize symptoms to such an extent that individuals saw no need to manage their symptoms differently.
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02472, USA. stennstedt@neriscience.com
Courtney B
CB
Jackson
Elizabeth M
EM
Botelho
Lisa C
LC
Welch
Journel
J
Joseph
Sharon L
SL
Tennstedt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001900:Boston; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017678:Sex Distribution; D057545:Social Stigma; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology*