Diagnosed, Therefore I Am: How Health and Identity Relate to Treatment Adherence
Alternative Title
Abstract
Medical and mental health diagnoses are quite common in the United States. My study, "Diagnosed, Therefore I Am: How Health and Identity Relate to Treatment Adherence” combines the topic of health and diagnosis with identity to examine the extent to which a medical or mental health diagnosis is
incorporated into a person’s identity and the implications this has on their health-related behaviors. In psychology, identity refers to qualities and characteristics which a person believes to be descriptive and true about themselves. Identity is composed of many different things, including physical characteristics, psychological characteristics, and group memberships. This quantitative study will utilize the 20 Statements Task – in which people describe who they are – to measure important components of participants’ identities. Participants will also complete treatment adherence scales to measure the extent to which they are doing what is recommended by their medical or mental health care team, including medication adherence and adherence to medical or therapy appointments. Adherence to treatment plans including a wide variety of interventions is absolutely essential to
proper maintenance and/or remission of any illness, disorder, or injury. As such, it is similarly essential to identify potential mediators which may improve adherence to treatment. I hypothesize that successful integration of diagnosis into identity will contribute to a greater level of treatment adherence. Thus, I expect that those who include diagnosis in their identity will be more likely to take preventative medications and attend appointments. It is further hypothesized that those who include diagnosis in their identity will engage in more generally positive healthrelated
behaviors. The results of this study may provide insight which medical and mental health professionals can utilize to improve treatment adherence.