symptom iceberg

symptom iceberg

the submerged mountain of medically serious, personally troubling, painful or even life-threatening conditions which are never referred for professional help. It has been shown that people who possess severe symptoms and physical discomfort may nevertheless describe themselves as ‘in good health’, and when they describe themselves as ‘in poor health’ it does not follow that they act in the way assumed by the BIOMECHANICAL OR BIOMEDICAL MODEL OF ILLNESS and refer their symptoms for medical treatment. Definitions of illness and health are framed by the values of social groups as are the strategies deemed appropriate once a problem has been identified. The decision to go to a doctor for treatment depends, to a large degree, on the extent to which the troubling condition interferes with normal living patterns and social relationships. Illness behaviour and the acceptance of the SICK ROLE are part of a complex of self-referral patterns, systems of lay, folk and professional healing, and access to and distribution of health services. Even when a problem has been defined as suitable for medical referral, studies show that people may still not visit their doctor because they do not want to trouble the doctor, they are discouraged by the waiting room or appointments system or receptionist, they fear that the doctor will adopt a judgemental attitude, or they hope that the problem will go away

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000