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Self-Acceptance and Chronic Illness

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The Strength of Self-Acceptance

Abstract

Diagnosis with a chronic medical condition can be an extraordinary stressor. As an individual adjusts to living with a chronic illness, often his or her understanding of self changes and evolves to include this new element. Psychologically this may present an intense challenge to adjustment, which may then impact how the illness is managed and perhaps the course of the disease itself. In this chapter, the concepts of self and self-acceptance within the context of chronic illness will be described. This description will be embedded in psychological, contextual science in order to examine the factors that contribute to self-acceptance in chronic illness, with an eye toward ways in which psychological interventions may improve functioning and self-acceptance in individuals with chronic disease.

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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Gregg Ph.D. .

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Gregg, J.A. (2013). Self-Acceptance and Chronic Illness. In: Bernard, M. (eds) The Strength of Self-Acceptance. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6806-6_14

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