Abstract:
This investigation examined the ways in which individuals’ perceptions of the prevalence (perceived descriptive norms) of common somatic symptoms among peers influenced their appraisals of those symptoms, and their intentions to seek medical care or social support (illness behavior) in response to them. A conceptual model of the direct and indirect relations between neuroticism and depression, somatic symptom experience, perceived descriptive norms, symptom-related distress, perceived threat, and illness behavior was developed and tested across two studies. In Study 1, cross-sectional data collected from a community sample was analyzed using multiple mediation path analyses. Results showed support for the hypothesis that higher levels of depression and neuroticism would be associated with lower perceptions of symptom, but not for the hypothesis that higher perceived descriptive norms for symptoms would be associated with lower distress and perceived threat. In Study 2, an experimental design to determine whether providing college students with fabricated information regarding descriptive norms for their symptoms among peers would produce subsequent changes in their symptom-related distress, perceptions of threat, and intentions to engage in illness behavior. Results of multiple-group path analyses found no support for the hypothesis that distress, perceived threat, and intentions to engage in illness behavior would be lowest among participants who were told their symptoms were common among peers (high norm condition), and highest among those who were told their symptoms were rare (low norm condition). Implications of these findings and suggestions for further research addressing the shortcomings of this investigation are discussed.
