The meaning of health and illness: some considerations for health psychology

Abstract

The importance of understanding individuals’ ideas of health and illness is well acknowledged by research for its theoretical and practical implications for both health psychology and education. Insofar as researchers agree that individuals’ ideas of health and illness have an impact on their health attitudes and behaviour, people’s thoughts of health and health and illness - related issues are increasingly being investigated. In consonance, the objective of this study is to critically review major ideas that underlies individuals’ concepts of health and illness. Findings are discussed in terms of their potential contributions for health psychology.