Social exclusion as an aspect of chronic illness experience

Introduction: Social exclusion is a process in which certain individuals or social groups are denied full access to various rights, opportunities and resources. Social exclusion may also be conceptualized as social or normative isolation from the wider society. Looking from this perspective, anyone who appears to deviate in any way from perceived norms of a population, including people with certain chronic illnesses and disabilities, may thereby become subject to coarse or subtler forms of social exclusion. Social exclusion is typically studied at the meso and macro levels, however the focus on micro level is equally important as it provides insights on individual ‘s subjective perceptions and social experiences of living with a chronic condition. Understanding of these experiences may be important for desigining patient/client centered rehabilitation and for discussions on the role of a patient/client in a PRM team. Purpose: How chronic illness may become a precondition for social exclusion? Method: 22 semi-structured interviews with persons with diverse chronic conditions. Results: Individuals differently adjust to illness. How well a person will manage to adjust depends on severity of illness and symptoms, its impact on daily routines and future life plans, as well on age, gender, etc. Perceived stigmatization may also affect the process of adjustment. Informants reported adverse societal reactions, especially where signs of illness were visible. Stigmatization may be anticipated even if illness is invisible. In order to manage the consequences of a deteriorating health and stigma some informants were prompted to withdraw from social life. Conclusions: Illness affects not only the body but may have significant affect one ‘s self-concept and social identity. Individuals may experience self-devaluation, stigmatization and social exclusion.[...]Sociologijos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta