Abstract
One hundred seventy-eight subjects attributed a variety of causes to six illnesses/dieseases: AIDS, the common cold, diabetes, hypertension, lung cancer, and headaches. Factor analysis of these causal attributions yielded four factors which were more complex than those in the existing literature. Each of the six illnesses was seen as caused by different factors. Ethnic and gender differences in causal attributions also were assessed. Although there were no differences between minorities and whites in the perceived causes of the six illnesses, a number of gender differences did emerge. Women were more likely than men to view illness as caused by Sin and Sex and as a form of punishment. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for ethnic and gender differences in health behavior, health service utilization, and somatic symptoms, and suggestions for future research are offered.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Affleck, G., Tennen, H. and Croog, S. (1987). Causal attributions, perceived control and recovery from a heart attack.J. Clin. Psychol. 5: 339–355.
Bailey, E. (1987). Sociocultural factors and health care seeking behavior among Black Americans.J. Natl. Med. Assoc. 79: 389–392.
Bailey, E. (1991).Urban African-American Health Care, Univesity Press of America, Lanham, MD.
Gould-Martin, K. (1978). Hot, cold, clean, poison and dirt: Chinese folk medical categories.Soc. Sci. Med. 12: 39–46.
Harwood, A. (1981).Ethnicity and Medical Care, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Glaser, R., Williger, D., Stout, J., Messick, G., et al. (1985). Psychosocial enhancement of immunocompetence in a geriatric population.Health Psychol. 4: 25–41.
Kunitz, S. J. (1983),Disease Change and the Role of Medicine: The Navajo Experience, Unversity of California Press, Berkeley.
Landrine, H., and Klonoff, E. A. (1992). Culture and health-related schema: A review and proposal for interdisciplinary integration.Health Psychol. 11(4): 267–276.
Landrine, H., and Klonoff, E. A. (1994). Cultural diversity in causal attributions for illness: The role of the supernatural.J. Behav. Med. 17: 181–193.
Lau, R. R., Bernard, T. M., and Hartman, K. A. (1989). Further explorations of common sense representations of common illnesses.Health Psychol. 8: 195–219.
Levy, S., Herberman, R., Maluish, A., Schlien, B., and Lippman, M. (1985). Prognostic risk assessment in primary breast cancer by behavioral and immunological parameters.Health Psychol. 4: 99–113.
Maduro, R. (1983). Curanderismo and Latino views of diesease and curing.West. J. Med. 139: 868–874.
Meyer, D., Leventhal, H., and Gutman, M. (1985). Common sense models of illness: The example of hypertension.Health Psychol. 4(2):115–135.
Murdock, G. P. (1980).Theories of Illness: A World Survey, University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh.
Peterson, C., and Seligman, M. E. P. (1987). Explanatory style and illness.J. Personal. 55: 237–265.
Peterson, C., Seligman, M. E. P., and Vaillant, G. E. (1988). Pessimistic explanatory style is a risk factor for physical illness.J. Personal Soc. Psychol. 55(1): 23–27.
Spicer, E. H. (1977).Ethnic Medicine in the Southwest, University of Arizona Press, Tuscon.
Taylor, S., Lichtman, R., and Wood, J. (1984). Attributions, beliefs about control and adjustment to breast cancer.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 47:489–502.
Tennen, H., Affleck, G., Allen, D., McGrade, B., and Ratzan, S. (1984). Causal attributions and coping with insulin-dependent diabetes.Basic Appl. Soc. Psychol. 5: 131–142.
Turk, D. C., Rudy, T. E., and Salovey, P. (1986). Implicit models of illness.J. Behav. Med. 9: 453–474.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The Public Health Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klonoff, E.A., Landrine, H. Culture and gender diversity in commonsense beliefs about the causes of six illnesses. J Behav Med 17, 407–418 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01858011
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01858011