Psychodiagnostics cognitive representations of the disease (Results of testing Russian version of the illness cognition questionnaire)
The literature on chronic diseases recognizes the role of illness cognition as a mediator between stress and illness. The results of testing of the Russian version of the illness cognition questionnaire. The basis for this questionnaire served as the model representations of the disease is widely developed in the foreign clinical psychology. Diagnostic procedure involves identifying the positive and negative factors to assess the impact of the disease on the psychosocial adaptation. The questionnaire assesses three ways of cognitively evaluating the stressful and aversive character of a chronic illness: helplessness, acceptance, and perceived benefits. Scale «Acceptance» and «Perceived benefits» perceived ability to diminish, live with and master the aversive consequences of one’s disease recognising the need to adapt to the chronic illness, additional positive consequences of the illness situation, such as changes in life priorities and personal goals, positive personality changes, and strengthened personal relationships. Scale «Helplessness» reflect evaluation of the illness that emphasises the negative meaning of the illness, focusing on the adverse aspects of the disease as uncontrollable, unpredictable and unchangeable. Total sample consisted of 177 women with cancer of the reproductive system, the average age was 54,7 ± 6,9 years. Questionnaire includes an 18-point Likert scale measured at designed to study the basic concepts of the disease. Russian version of the illness cognition questionnaire has sufficient internal consistency, test-retest reliability is characterized by high and complies the English version in relation to the factor structure. Convergent validity of the questionnaire is supported by significant relations between cognitive representations of the disease and locus of disease control, anxiety, depression, coping behavior.