The utility of Leventhal’s model in the analysis of the psycho-behavioral implications of familial cancer – a literature review

Abstract

IntroductionWe aim to highlight the utility of this model in the analysis of the psycho-behavioral implications of family cancer, presenting the scientific literature that used Leventhal’s model as the theoretical framework of approach.Material and methodsA systematic search was performed in six databases (EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed Central, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science) with empirical studies published between 2006 and 2015 in English with regard to the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSMR) and familial/hereditary cancer. The key words used were: illness representations, common sense model, self regulatory model, familial/hereditary/genetic cancer, genetic cancer counseling. The selection of studies followed the PRISMA-P guidelines (Moher et al., 2009; Shamseer et al., 2015), which suggest a three-stage procedure.ResultsIndividuals create their own cognitive and emotional representation of the disease when their health is threatened, being influenced by the presence of a family history of cancer, causing them to adopt or not a salutogenetic behavior. Disease representations, particularly the cognitive ones, can be predictors of responses to health threats that determine different health behaviors. Age, family history of cancer, and worrying about the disease are factors associated with undergoing screening. No consensus has been reached as to which factors act as predictors of compliance with cancer screening programs.ConclusionsThis model can generate interventions that are conceptually clear as well as useful in regulating the individuals’ behaviors by reducing the risk of developing the disease and by managing as favorably as possible health and/or disease.

Utilizing the Common-Sense model of illness representations to explore children’s perceptions of, and coping with ADHD

“…The utility of the CSM for understanding the psychosocial implications of physical illness has been demonstrated in different types of conditions (Hagger & Orbell, 2003) such as asthma (Achstetter, Schultz, Faller, & Schuler, 2019), cancer (Postolica, Iorga, Savin, Azoicai, & Enea, 2018), and brain injuries (Snell, Hay-Smith, Surgenor, & Siegert, 2013). In addition, there has been a growing interest in using the CSM in the context of mental illness (Antoniades, Mazza, & Brijnath, 2017;Scerri, Saliba, Saliba, Scerri, & Camilleri, 2019).…”

Cognitive appraisal of the disease and stress level in lung cancer patients. The mediating role of coping styles

“…Becoming aware of their disease is difficult for patients diagnosed with lung cancer [16,17]. The disease carries many different connotations [39] and is sometimes compared to post-traumatic stress [19,20]. The study showed that lung cancer patients who perceived the disease at a low level as threat, loss, harm or significance experienced high levels of stress.…”

“…Coping styles are related to the process in which stress occurs and to many other factors which modify the stress relationship and which are often considered as variables [36,39]. Research has shown that the styles related to the fighting spirit, acceptance and positive re-evaluation were the most adaptive for recovering among cancer patients [40].…”

Polyunsaturated fatty acid status and risk of type 1 diabetes in infants and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Embase, Wiley Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PubMed were systematically reviewed to identify clinical trials or observational studies published before July 18, 2019 (date of last search) following relevant guidelines [ 20 , 21 ]. The search string broadly included “Fatty Acids,” “Omega-3”, “Omega-6”, “Docosahexaenoic Acids”, “Eicosapentaenoic Acid”, “Linolenic Acids”, “Linoleic Acids”, “pufa”, “polyunsaturated*”, “type 1 diabetes”, “IDDM”, “T1DM”, “islet autoimmunity”, or “autoimmunity”.…”