Illness Schema Activation and the Effects of Illness Seasonality on Accessibility of Implicit Illness-Related Information

Abstract

Background. Research has demonstrated that implicit models of illness can be activated by priming techniques. Purpose. We tested the hypothesis that following a supraliminal? prime for the common cold, illness-related schematic information would be more accessible when the illness is 'in-season' than when it is 'out-of-season'. Methods. A 2(common cold vs. neutral prime) X 2(in-season vs. out-of-season) experimental design. Participants (N=85) were primed prior to completing a modified Stroop color-naming task to assess accessibility of implicit illness related information. Results. Moderated linear regression of response latency to common cold words on the independent variables revealed the predicted main effect of prime and significant two-way prime X seasonality interaction effect. Illness-related information was more accessible in participants primed when the common cold was in-season than when it was not in-season. Conclusions. Social-environment factors such as seasonality makes specific illness schema more salient and affects responses to illness-related stimuli.

Predicting Self-Management Behaviors in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Using an Integrated Theoretical Model: the Impact of Beliefs About Illnesses and Beliefs About Behaviors

“…Many authors have advocated an integrated theoretical approach [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] and it has utility in the current context because it allows us to account for beliefs associated with illnesses, which may compel individuals to engage in salient health related behaviors to cope with the threat, and beliefs about actual participation in health-related behaviors. Specifically, illness beliefs are expected serve as distal predictors of behaviors relevant to coping with illness threat, a theoretically-consistent effect that has not only been corroborated by research showing relations between illness representations and coping behaviors across multiple conditions, but also in laboratory research demonstrating that activating cognitive representations of illness through priming [16,39] leads to the activation of related behavioral responses for the illness [40]. Beliefs about behaviors derived from social cognitive models should be more proximal predictors of behavior given the correspondence and specificity of the beliefs to the behavior themselves and the measures used to tap them [41][42][43].…”

The Common Sense Model of Illness Self-Regulation: A Conceptual Review and Proposed Extended Model

“…The model is also evolving, encompassing additional constructs and processes that more effectively and comprehensively explain the processes by which patients' make sense of health threats and regulate their responses (e.g., Benyamini & Karademas, 2019;Cameron et al, 2005b;Durazo & Cameron, 2019;Hagger, Koch, et al, 2017;Karademas et al, 2011;Leventhal et al, 2016;Moss-Morris, 2013;Orbell et al, 2006;Orbell et al, 2015;Orbell & Phillips, 2019;Phillips et al, 2013). Many of these additions represent formal specification of original proposals, while others seek to extend the model to increase its scope and predictive validity.…”

Automatic processes and self-regulation of illness

“…Environmental context is also likely to impact upon illness identification in important ways. Orbell, Henderson, and Hagger (2015) showed that priming the common cold rendered concepts related to the cold more accessible when the common cold was 'in season'. If exposure to illness primes in the environment increases accessibility of a particular illness identity, people are more likely to rapidly detect, label, and act to manage symptoms they experience.…”

“…Priming and context effects may also be relevant to promotion of positive management of diseases such as hayfever or asthma, where prophylactic medication use is recommended. Orbell et al (2015) showed that even if an individual is not experiencing symptoms and 'seasonality' is low, priming might activate illness schema in the absence of symptoms and impact upon the timely use of preventive medications. Interventions that alter the perceived environment might therefore promote illness schema activation and preventive medication use.…”

“…Aarts 2007; Bargh & Chartrand, 2000;Henderson, Hagger & Orbell, 2007;Orbell, Henderson & Hagger, 2015;Papies, 2016 Cognitive Bias Modification Procedures in which participants are trained to disengage from stimuli using a modified visual probe task. Henderson, Orbell & Hagger, 2009;Leventhal, Leventhal & Contrada, 1998;Lowe & Norman, 2017 illness schema and activated when that illness schema is subsequently activated-perhaps becoming the 'default' actions that are activated along with other information about illness.…”