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Structure Matters: Examining Illness Behavior Using Parsons's Sick Role, Angela D. Byrd
Structure Matters: Examining Illness Behavior Using Parsons's Sick Role, Angela D. Byrd
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Although Talcott Parsons’s sick role theory, as described in 1951 in The Social System, has been severely criticized for its inapplicability to chronic illnesses, a portion of the theory is still a relevant and necessary factor in terms of understanding and treating chronic illness today. Using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, this study looks at the individual effects of sex, age, race, cohabitation, education and region of residence on the likelihood of chronically ill patients considering themselves limited in their amount or kind of work as an indicator of sick role adaptation. Results show statistically significant relationships …