Tag: attitudes

The circuit of symbolic violence in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) (I): A preliminary study

Abstract:

Objective: How can it be that a disease as serious as CFS affecting such a large number of people could be so unknown to the general population? The answer given to this question is based on Pierre Bourdieu’s analyzes of symbolic violence.

Method: The “letters to the editor” by CFS patients to three national Spanish newspapers were subjected to various qualitative and quantitative analyzes.

Results: Based on the qualitative analyzes and their theoretical interpretation, 13 mechanisms of symbolic violence were identified: non-recognition, institutionalized un-care, condescension, authorized imposition of illegitimate verdicts, delegitimization, disintegration, imposition of discourse, euphemization, silencing, invisibilization, isolation, uncommunication, and self-blaming. Multiple Correspondence Analysis made it possible to identify that the structural mechanisms (non-recognition, disintegration) were combined with the most symbolic ones, which came to the forefront producing the observed effects of symbolic violence. The 13 clusters obtained in the Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering confirmed this result.

Source: Gimeno Torrent X. The circuit of symbolic violence in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) (I): A preliminary study. Health Care Women Int. 2021 Jun 14:1-36. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2021.1925900. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34125009. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34125009/

Research Volunteers’ Attitudes Toward Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Abstract:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are stigmatizing illnesses characterized by cognitive difficulties, post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and other symptoms. Patients are often incapacitated and stigmatized as having a psychological disorder.

The Chronic Fatigue Attitudes Test (CAT) assesses stigmatizing views toward individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, however, there is little research examining factors that may account for variation in stigmatizing attitudes toward this group. We examined CAT scores among college age research volunteers (N = 90), hypothesizing that exposure to information about ME and CFS as a result of volunteering on a ME and CFS-related research project would be associated with less stigmatizing attitudes compared to volunteers on unrelated projects.

Findings indicated that ME and CFS research volunteers expressed less stigmatizing attitudes. Educational efforts aiming to disseminate accurate information about ME and CFS may mitigate stigma and the experience of stigma among individuals with ME and CFS.

Source: Nehrke PI, Fox PA, Jason LA. Research Volunteers’ Attitudes Toward Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Neurology (ECronicon). 2017;7(4):172-178. Epub 2017 Aug 16.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29662969

Assessing attitudes toward new names for chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

A questionnaire was distributed at the American Association of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’s biannual convention in Washington in January 2001 as well as through various Internet Web sites and listserves during early February and March of 2001. The sample consisted of 432 respondents. Most respondents (86%) indicated they wanted a name change, although more patients than scientists were in favor of this change. It was also apparent that the patients and physicians were clearly split between adopting a name such as myalgic encephalopathy versus one such as neuro-endocrine immune disorder. Also, among those respondents who selected either of these two choices for a new name, less than 30% of them supported the other name. Although the majority of respondents feel the name should be changed at this time, this survey suggests there are different stakeholders involved in the name-change process, each with strong and sometimes disparate feelings about changing the name.

 

Source: Jason LA, Eisele H, Taylor RR. Assessing attitudes toward new names for chronic fatigue syndrome. Eval Health Prof. 2001 Dec;24(4):424-35. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11817200