University Honors

As we navigate our own lives, it is easy to forget that the people around us have their ownactivities, their own responsibilities, and their own problems. For some, their problems may bemore obvious than others. A casted leg, wheelchair use, and having no hair may allbe indicators of the deterioration of someone's health. When the condition is visible, people maybe more inclined to empathize with and understand their capabilities and challenges, which mayrequire outside assistance. However, problems that are not as obvious may yield differentreactions. When seeing a person without hair, many may assume that the person is undergoingtreatment and requires extra assistance. However, if that same person were to wear a wig, theymay not receive the same empathy even though they are just as sick. This observation, that howpeople are treated by others differs based on how "sick" they look, was explored throughinterviews with people varying in health conditions. I considered a range of conditions fromcancer to chronic pain and depression. The focus of this research is centered around the stories,experiences, and treatment of those that have underlying medical challenges and how theseexperiences affect their way of confronting their illness. A total of 10 participants wereinterviewed, and qualitative analyses were used to identify relevant themes. This project soughtto promote exploration, reflection, and a better understanding of how our interactions maydeeply affect others' mental health and coping.