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CAUSAL ANALYTIC SICK ROLE THEORY: AN ANALYSIS OF CAUSAL PROCESS IN TWO POPULATIONS
Abstract
This dissertation organizes the sick-role literature within a latent variable causal modeling framework utilizing multiple indicators of all endogenous variables. A population comparison of cross illness and disability types was utilized in which a causal analytic sick role theory was considered. Two populations (a general metropolitan adult and home health sample) were used to test this theory. General metropolitan adult population data indicate that sick role causal process remains constant across temporary acute, chronic, critical terminal, and psychological illness and disability types. Personal value upon self reliance is the sole direct cause of personal willingness to adopt the sick role. Perceived sick role consensus is a direct cause of one dimension of personal willingness to adopt the sick role, personal willingness to seek medical advice when ill. Perceived sick role consensus is a function of social class, ethnicity, and gender status-roles. General population sick role causal process does not operate in the home health population. Direct linkages of general population sick role causal process may be contingent upon certain operators which include home health care client participation, social integration, general health status, and/or medical patient status. Data analysis supports the construct validity of the personal willingness to adopt the sick role theoretical construct but suggests that the sick role theoretical construct may be more accurately defined as a set of three interrelated perceived norms pertaining to illness and illness behavior. These sick role norms are: (1)the sick person is not personally responsible for his/her condition, (2)the sick person should recognize that illness is inherently undesirable and that he/she has an obligation to get well, and (3)the sick person has an obligation to seek medically competent assistance and cooperate with medical personnel.
Subject Area
Social research
Recommended Citation
SEEM, JOHN ERNEST, "CAUSAL ANALYTIC SICK ROLE THEORY: AN ANALYSIS OF CAUSAL PROCESS IN TWO POPULATIONS" (1981). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8118180.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8118180