Accounts of health and illness: Dilemmas and representations

Abstract

This paper argues that people's views of health and illness are best understood as accounts that they give to others. In that sense, such beliefs are neither the expression of fixed inner attitudes, nor evidence for shared social representations. Instead, we emphasise the importance of seeing health talk as both ideological and dilemmatic. The paper explores the way in which individuals who speak of health (or illness) in general must also give an account of their health in particular.Reviewing the distinction between 'private' and 'public' accounts, the article discusses the various rhetorical devices by which this is achieved. This shows how people's talk about health both defines their social fitness and exemplifies their claims to being ill or healthy.

The Use of Diaries in Sociological Research on Health Experience

“…This paper has highlighted how giving accounts of illness can be such a fraught and anxious activity -a point which has been noted by other commentators (Radley and Billig, 1996;Pavis et al, 1996 andWilliams, 1983). Thus in a 'diary-interview ' study about lay concepts of mental health, one informant revealed that she had an ongoing illness towards the end of the study, but not in the initial interview.…”

“…(Mrs S, diary) 4.21 Thus giving accounts of illness is a fraught activity. Talking about illness to researchers who may well be perceived as well -by dint of having a job, being mobile or needing to ask to know what it is like to live with ongoing pain or disability -may be uncomfortable or threatening to someone who is acknowledged to be ill -indeed who has been selected for interview on account of their status as an 'ill' person (Radley and Billig, 1996). Certainly within the study reported here, there was a great deal of sensitivity as to how accounts might be received.…”

Misunderstandings, communicative expectations and resources in illness narratives: Insights from beyond interview transcripts

“…Participants may provide lengthy narratives for a number of reasons, including framing the interview as an opportunity to share experiences and as a genre of social interaction where talking at length is expected. as radley and Billig (1996) argue, and as identified in this study's findings (murdoch 2010), participants may also frame interviews as an interrogation of their illness management, leading to lengthy justifications of behaviour. however, while people with chronic illness may be used to discussing their illness with health professionals, the communicative expectations of the research interview are likely to be a much less usual occurrence in the everyday lives of many interviewees.…”

“…Qualitative research has provided extensive critical reflection on the production of illness narratives within interviews, including: unpicking how talk is shaped by roles constructed within the interview dynamic (Gwyn 2002); the performative nature of interviews (Denzin 2001); interactional dilemmas faced by interviewees on being asked questions about their health (radley and Billig 1996); theoretical presuppositions of interviewers conducting and reporting research (Seale 1999); and analysing interviews as communicative events (mishler 1991). Such reflection has highlighted how the research interview imposes communicative norms which are accepted or resisted by interviewees.…”

On the outskirts of normality: Young adults with disabilities, their belonging and strategies

“…This might be viewed as a consequence of the interview situation as they want to present themselves in a way that hides the fact that they belong to the group of young adults with disabilities (Radley & Billig, 1996). However, the interviews clearly indicate that several of the respondents also use this strategy in other situations.…”