A Systematic Review of Relationships Between Illness Identity and Health-Related Outcomes in Individuals with Chronic Illnesses

AbstractThe aim of the current systematic review is to examine relationships among illness identity and illness-specific variables, adherence, and health-related outcomes. Studies were included if they (a) presented quantitative data on illness identity ’s relationship with adherence or health-related outcomes, (b) included chronic medical illness samples, (c) were peer-reviewed, and (d) were available in English. PubMed and EBSCOhost were searched. Quality was evaluated using the EPHPP Tool. Twelve papers were included. Moderate evidence support s the relationship between engulfment, enrichment, and illness complexity. Moderate evidence supports relationships between multiple identities and adherence as well as with various health-related outcomes. There is somewhat consistent evidence for associations between engulfment and negative health -related outcomes. It may be important to inform healthcare providers of possible identity challenges that patients face and their associations with adherence and health-related outcomes. Routine illness identity screening may allow for identification of individuals who would benefit from increased support.

Source: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings - September 26, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research