An exploration of diagnosis and illness experiences of women and men living with Celiac Disease

Abstract

This research explores the illness experiences of women and men who received a Celiac Disease Diagnosis as an adult in addition to the impact it had on their social interactions and every-day lives. Investigation of illness experiences were conducted through the use of semi-structured interviews which explored diagnosis experiences, gendered experiences, and life style impact. Significant findings of this research indicated that there are gendered diagnosis experiences among women and men who are diagnosed with this disease. More specifically, female participants reported diagnosis experiences similar to that of a contested illness. In contrast, male participants reported diagnosis experiences that reflect a routinely defined illness. Despite these results, additional research is necessary in order to better understand gendered experiences among those who are diagnosed with Celiac Disease as an adult.