Language, Discourse, and Communication About Health and Illness: Intergroup Relations, Role, and Emotional Support

Abstract

It is no understatement to say that research into communication in health contexts is vast. Finnegan and Viswanath (1990) identified five areas of health communication: professional–patient relations, lifestyle campaigns, interprofessional relations, health professional training, and health information systems. More recently, Beck et al. (2004) reviewed research between 1990 and 2000. They identified three main areas of published research: individuals seeking health information, public health campaigns, and health care delivery. This huge scope reflects the salience and importance to most of society inherent in all aspects of health and illness. Furthermore, in recent times, demographic and technological changes such as the ageing of the population and lower mortality from traumatic injury have produced consequent changes in the relative balance between acute illness on one hand and chronic illness and disability on the other. These changes have led to an increased emphasis on the social and psychological features of the contexts. For example, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council now asks for a statement of the social impact of each piece of research that is proposed for funding. Similarly, there are now targeted calls for research in most Western countries on specific social or psychological aspects of health, illness and disability.