How consistent are beliefs about the causes and solutions to illness? An experimental study.

OBJECTIVES

Research illustrates that people hold beliefs about the causes and solutions to illness. This study aimed to assess the consistency in these beliefs in terms of their variation according to type of problem and whether they are consistent with each other. Further, the study aimed to assess whether they are open to change and whether changing beliefs about cause resulted in a subsequent shift in beliefs about solutions.

DESIGN

Experimental factorial 3 (problem) x 2 (manipulated cause) design using vignettes.

METHODS

Two hundred seventy-nine participants rated their beliefs about the cause and solution of one of three problems (depression, obesity and sleep problems) following a vignette which described the causes as either psychological or biomedical.

RESULTS

Beliefs about causes and solutions varied according to type of problem indicating that beliefs are illness specific. The results also showed that people hold beliefs about causes and solutions which are consistent with each other as an endorsement of a psychological cause was consistently reflected in a belief that a psychological solution was most appropriate and effective. A similar pattern was seen for beliefs about biomedical causes and solutions. Finally, the results showed that beliefs were open to manipulation and that a shift in beliefs about causes resulted in a parallel shift in beliefs about solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

People hold beliefs about causes and solution which vary according to type of problem. However, they are always consistent with each other and a shift in one set of beliefs results in a significant shift in the other set.