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Say yes to life: a pilot study.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Most people view characteristics like drive and happiness as life-affirming, and poor coping as life-denying. These perceptions may impact health and illness, suggesting their use in health education.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Understanding public perception of life-affirming and life-denying traits is crucial for health.
- Previous research has not extensively explored these subjective characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify characteristics commonly perceived as life-affirming or life-denying by the general public.
- To explore the potential influence of these perceptions on health and illness.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to a pilot group of 167 respondents.
- Respondents represented diverse age and social categories.
- Analysis focused on characteristics mentioned by over 10% of participants.
Main Results:
- Five life-affirming traits (e.g., Drive, Sociability, Happiness, Optimism) were identified (15-20% endorsement).
- Five life-denying traits (e.g., Unsociability, Poor Coping, Pessimism) were identified, with Unsociability and Poor Coping being most frequent (22%).
Conclusions:
- Subjective perceptions of life-affirming/denying traits significantly correlate with public views.
- These perceptions may influence physical or mental health, illness, and illness behavior.
- Public perceptions of these characteristics could be valuable in future health education programs.