Interembodiment among Long Haulers and their carers

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Medical Anthropology
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions experiencing long-term, disabling health effects, leading to new forms of chronic illness.
• Chronic living is characterized by a deep interdependence between patients and their support networks, involving emotional, material, social, and biological dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of "interembodiment" in the context of chronic living, particularly among individuals with Long COVID.
• To illuminate the complex dynamics between patients and caregivers in navigating chronic health conditions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving over 100 interviews with individuals experiencing Long COVID.
• Analysis of three in-depth case studies illustrating patient-caregiver interdependence.

Main Results:

• Interembodiment is a key feature of chronic living, where the health and social lives of patients and caregivers are mutually influenced.
• Case studies reveal intergenerational care, shared illness experiences between patients and caregivers (e.g., cancer), and reliance on digital communities for support.
• Navigating chronic conditions like Long COVID requires significant effort to gain acknowledgment and care from various social and medical systems.

Conclusions:

• Chronic living, especially with conditions like Long COVID, necessitates a framework of interembodiment to understand the shared experiences and mutual reliance between patients and caregivers.
• The findings underscore the challenges individuals face in having complex chronic conditions recognized and addressed within healthcare and social contexts.