Abstract
The present study explores the differential utility of ‘Popular stories’ to relieve distress as perceived by persons with
chronic physical illness and mental illness and also to examine the differential utility of various themes of stories. Each
of the sample group consisting of persons with HIV+, Cancer, Depression spectrum disorders, Anxiety spectrum disorders, and
also persons without any specific illness (N = 125) was presented with a set of 40 stories of eight different themes. They were asked to rate the utility of each story
to relieve distress. Qualitative observations during the process were also noted down. Persons with chronic physical illness,
especially those with HIV+, have given the highest rating to the usefulness of stories for relieving distress vis-à-vis persons
with mental illness, especially Anxiety group. Stories with the theme ‘Goal Direction and Prioritization’ were perceived most
useful for relieving distress whereas the theme ‘Relativity/Count your blessings’ has been perceived as the least useful for
relieving distress. The findings of the present study would be useful in selection of stories to be used in a psychotherapeutic
set-up and further investigation.
chronic physical illness and mental illness and also to examine the differential utility of various themes of stories. Each
of the sample group consisting of persons with HIV+, Cancer, Depression spectrum disorders, Anxiety spectrum disorders, and
also persons without any specific illness (N = 125) was presented with a set of 40 stories of eight different themes. They were asked to rate the utility of each story
to relieve distress. Qualitative observations during the process were also noted down. Persons with chronic physical illness,
especially those with HIV+, have given the highest rating to the usefulness of stories for relieving distress vis-à-vis persons
with mental illness, especially Anxiety group. Stories with the theme ‘Goal Direction and Prioritization’ were perceived most
useful for relieving distress whereas the theme ‘Relativity/Count your blessings’ has been perceived as the least useful for
relieving distress. The findings of the present study would be useful in selection of stories to be used in a psychotherapeutic
set-up and further investigation.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research in Progress
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s12646-011-0131-9
- Authors
- Neelam Oswal, Clinical Psychologist, Vinchurni, Nirgudi, Phaltan 415 523, District–Satara, Maharashtra State, India
- Journal Psychological Studies
- Online ISSN 0974-9861
- Print ISSN 0033-2968