TY - JOUR

T1 - Thinking positively about chronic illness

T2 - An exploration of optimism, illness perceptions and well-being in patients with Parkinson's disease

AU - Hurt, Catherine S

AU - Burn, David J

AU - Hindle, John

AU - Samuel, Mike

AU - Wilson, Ken

AU - Brown, Richard G

N1 - © 2013 The British Psychological Society.

PY - 2014/5

Y1 - 2014/5

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Holding positive beliefs about illness and having an optimistic outlook have been associated with increased well-being across a range of health conditions. However, research has indicated that being very optimistic may not actually be beneficial, and holding a realistic attitude is more adaptive in some forms of chronic illness, for example, Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to explore the nature of relationships between illness perceptions, optimism and well-being: specifically, whether a linear or non-linear relationship best described the data. Additionally, the proposed moderating effect of optimism on the relationship between illness perceptions and well-being was tested.DESIGN: A total of 109 participants with idiopathic PD completed questionnaire measures of illness perception, optimism, mood and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).METHODS: Multiple regression analyses were used to explore relationships between illness perceptions, optimism, mood and HRQoL. The potential curvilinear effects of illness perceptions and optimism were modelled using squared variables and linear and quadratic curve estimation.RESULTS: Holding positive illness perceptions predicted better well-being. Some evidence for a non-linear relationship between optimism and mood was found. Optimism had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between specific illness perceptions and outcome.CONCLUSIONS: Optimism appears to provide protection against some negative perceptions of illness and was associated with better mood and HRQoL. The findings indicate that specific illness perceptions may be beneficial targets for therapy. Therapeutic interventions should focus on enhancing positive perceptions of PD but potentially more importantly general optimistic attitude to maximize well-being.STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION: What is already known on this subject? Positive illness perceptions and high optimism are associated with better well-being in a range of conditions, both chronic and acute. Preliminary studies suggest that in chronic degenerative diseases, marked positive optimism confers no additional benefit over medium levels of optimism for well-being and is associated with less use of adaptive coping. What does this study add? Optimism moderates the effects of specific negative illness perceptions on well-being in Parkinson's disease. No evidence was found that unrealistic positive illness perceptions are detrimental to well-being. Adaptive illness perceptions may be condition specific.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Holding positive beliefs about illness and having an optimistic outlook have been associated with increased well-being across a range of health conditions. However, research has indicated that being very optimistic may not actually be beneficial, and holding a realistic attitude is more adaptive in some forms of chronic illness, for example, Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to explore the nature of relationships between illness perceptions, optimism and well-being: specifically, whether a linear or non-linear relationship best described the data. Additionally, the proposed moderating effect of optimism on the relationship between illness perceptions and well-being was tested.DESIGN: A total of 109 participants with idiopathic PD completed questionnaire measures of illness perception, optimism, mood and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).METHODS: Multiple regression analyses were used to explore relationships between illness perceptions, optimism, mood and HRQoL. The potential curvilinear effects of illness perceptions and optimism were modelled using squared variables and linear and quadratic curve estimation.RESULTS: Holding positive illness perceptions predicted better well-being. Some evidence for a non-linear relationship between optimism and mood was found. Optimism had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between specific illness perceptions and outcome.CONCLUSIONS: Optimism appears to provide protection against some negative perceptions of illness and was associated with better mood and HRQoL. The findings indicate that specific illness perceptions may be beneficial targets for therapy. Therapeutic interventions should focus on enhancing positive perceptions of PD but potentially more importantly general optimistic attitude to maximize well-being.STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION: What is already known on this subject? Positive illness perceptions and high optimism are associated with better well-being in a range of conditions, both chronic and acute. Preliminary studies suggest that in chronic degenerative diseases, marked positive optimism confers no additional benefit over medium levels of optimism for well-being and is associated with less use of adaptive coping. What does this study add? Optimism moderates the effects of specific negative illness perceptions on well-being in Parkinson's disease. No evidence was found that unrealistic positive illness perceptions are detrimental to well-being. Adaptive illness perceptions may be condition specific.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Attitude to Health

KW - Chronic Disease

KW - Confidence Intervals

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Parkinson Disease

KW - Personal Satisfaction

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/bjhp.12043

DO - 10.1111/bjhp.12043

M3 - Article

C2 - 23510498

VL - 19

SP - 363

EP - 379

JO - British Journal of Health Psychology

JF - British Journal of Health Psychology

SN - 2044-8287

IS - 2

ER -