Final answer:
Someone who is chronically ill could be described as having vulnerability characteristics, which contribute to vulnerability. Culture and individual personality play a significant role in the illness experience. Personality traits such as depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety can also make someone more prone to illness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Someone who is chronically ill could be described as having vulnerability characteristics, which contribute to vulnerability. In terms of constructing the illness experience, culture and individual personality both play a significant role. For some people, a long-term illness can have the effect of making their world smaller, more defined by the illness than anything else. For others, illness can be a chance for discovery, for re-imaging a new self. Culture plays a huge role in how an individual experiences illness.
Friedman and Booth-Kewley (1987) statistically reviewed 101 studies to examine the link between personality and illness. They proposed the existence of disease-prone personality characteristics, including depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety. Neuroticism, a personality trait that reflects how anxious, moody, and sad one is, has been identified as a risk factor for chronic health problems and mortality.
Unhealthy lifestyles, dangerous working conditions, risky cultural behaviors, and bad luck all increase the likelihood of individuals becoming dependent on the government for support. These factors contribute to vulnerability in individuals who are chronically ill.