THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF MEANING IN ILLNESS

The focus of this paper is the development of a conceptualization of m eaning within the context of serious illness. It is based on a symboli c interactionist perspective, with the significance of the concept of meaning for the process of adaptation being a primary point of discuss ion. Meaning, as it is defined here, refers to the perceived nature of the relationship between the individual and his/her world that is dev eloped within the context of specific events. It is comprised of two i nextricably linked dimensions: meaning that pertains to one's identity and how that is affected by the event of the illness, and meaning whi ch pertains to perceived characteristics of the event and to the socia l circumstances that surround it. Interviews with 38 persons living wi th the stress of cancer provide qualitative data that illustrate the c oncept as it is set forth in this paper. Four specific domains relevan t to symbolic interactionism were explored in these interviews: (1) th e individual's response to the illness; (2) changes that occurred rela tive to identify as a consequence of the illness; (3) the impact of ca ncer on the individual's relationship to the social world; (4) anticip ated effects of the illness on the individual's future. Clinical impli cations of specific aspects of meaning are discussed.