Description
Editors: Malavika J, Punnya K
Publisher: Cogniverse Press, Jorhat, Assam, India
First Edition: March, 2026
ISBN: 978-93-47652-73-8 (Print Edition)
e-ISBN: 978-93-47652-71-4 (Digital Edition)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19116585
Editors’ Affiliations:
- Malavika J, Senior Research Fellow, Department of English, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Devagiri, Kozhikode, India
- Punnya K, Senior Research Fellow, Department of English, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Devagiri, Kozhikode, India
Published by: Cogniverse Press, Nakari Gaon, Borigaon Siding, Jorhat – 1, Assam, India
Cover Photo Artist: Dr Sreeraj K V
Cover Designing: Punnya K
Copyright: © Authors
Disclaimer: The views, interpretations, and research findings presented in this publication are solely those of the respective authors. The editors and the publisher bear no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the content herein.
Preface
In recent years, discussions of health have increasingly moved beyond a narrow biomedical focus to recognise the complex social, cultural, and emotional dimensions of illness and well-being. Health is not experienced only through diagnosis and treatment; it is also shaped by relationships of care, experiences of suffering, and the everyday practices through which individuals and communities negotiate well-being. Understanding health, therefore, requires perspectives that extend across disciplines and engage with both scientific and humanistic approaches.
Understanding Health: Suffering, Care, Well-Being brings together contributions from scholars working in diverse fields, including psychology, sociology, literature, nursing studies, and public health. The volume aims to create a space where different perspectives on health can intersect, offering insights into how illness is experienced, how care is practised, and how well-being is understood within varied social and cultural contexts.
The chapters are organised into five thematic sections. The first section explores illness interventions and therapeutic tools, focusing on approaches that support psychological and emotional well-being. The second section examines caregiving dynamics and the often-invisible labour involved in sustaining care within families and communities. The third section reflects on end-of-life experiences, grief, and the philosophical and existential dimensions of suffering. The fourth section addresses vulnerable bodies and health equity, highlighting structural inequalities that shape access to care. The final section considers stigma, systems, and cultural resilience, exploring how social perceptions and institutional structures influence experiences of health and illness.
Together, these contributions highlight that health is not simply a medical condition but a deeply human experience shaped by social relationships, cultural meanings, and systems of care. By bringing these perspectives together, this volume hopes to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and contribute to a broader understanding of health in contemporary society.
The editors express gratitude to all contributors, reviewers, and supporters whose thoughtful engagement and guidance made this volume possible.
Editors
Malavika J
Punnya K
Key Themes
- Health and well-being beyond biomedical frameworks
- Psychological and emotional dimensions of illness
- Caregiving and invisible labour
- End-of-life experiences and existential suffering
- Health equity and vulnerable populations
- Stigma, resilience, and cultural perceptions of illness
- Interdisciplinary perspectives on health and care
Organization of the Book
- Illness Interventions and Therapeutic Tools
- Caregiving Dynamics and Informal Labour
- End-of-Life, Grief, and Dimensions of Suffering
- Vulnerable Bodies and Health Equity
- Stigma, Systems, and Cultural Resilience
Table of Contents
I. Illness Interventions and Therapeutic Tools
- CBT Communication in India: Compassion, Culture, and Cognitive Framing in Healthcare — Arnab Kumar Sen
- Enhancing Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults through Mindfulness, Yoga, and Dance Movement Interventions — Rimjhim Saraswat, Dr Archana Mishra
- Chronic Illness and Self-Concept: A Psychological Review — Vedant Shukla, Dr Anmol Shekhar Srivastava
- Creative Expression as a Therapeutic Approach in Mental Health Care and Psychological Healing — Guriya Sharma, Dr Ratan Sarkar
II. Caregiving Dynamics and Informal Labour
- When Care Changes Form: Grief and the Afterlife of Family Caregiving in Kerala — Saidevi S, Dr Anindya Jayanta Mishra
- From Sister to Steward: An Action Research Journey of Care, Suffering, and Becoming — Dr Angela Redondo
- Care, Responsibility, and Everyday Life: Cultural Contexts, Motherhood, and the Social Experience of Autism Caregiving in India — Pratiksha Rai, Dr Chittaranjan Das Adhikary
- Care at the Margins: Informal Caregivers, Emotional Labour, and Invisible Work — Dr Aadil Zeffer
- Almost Human and Victim-Messiah: A Sociological Study of Living-Related Kidney Donors and Recipients across the Maze of Organ Transplantation — Muskaan Kapoor
III. End-of-Life, Grief, and Dimensions of Suffering
- Age-Reversal Technologies, Longevity, and Lifespan Extension: Reenvisioning Public Perception of Death in the Contemporary Era — Arunima Roy
- The Ontology of Suffering: Reconfiguring Health, Identity, and Care in Conditions of Chronic Uncertainty — Dr Richa Randhawa
- The Unscheduled Day: Witnessing the Loss — Dr Pooja Rhine
- The Pedagogy of Suffering: Emotional and Spiritual Preparation for the End-of-Life — Dr C Ramakrishnan
- End-of-Life Suffering and Meaning of Sorrow: Psychological, Existential, and Cultural Perspectives — Dr Sanjay Pal
IV. Vulnerable Bodies and Health Equity
- Barriers to Antenatal Care Utilisation among Women of Childbearing Age in Zaria Metropolis, Nigeria — Aimee Osamudiamen Chris
- Reflections from Nursing Practice: Psychosocial Care for Women Living with Preeclampsia — Kristiani Desimina Tauho
- Domestic Violence and Psychological Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review — Nuruaslizawati Ayob, Dr Siti Hajar Abdul Rauf
- Living with an Autoimmune Disorder and the Cycle of Self-Sabotage: Flexing the Reflexivity Muscle as Participant-Researcher — Dr Sumeshni Govender
V. Stigma, Systems, and Cultural Resilience
- Sustaining Health through Care: ASHA Workers, Testimonial Narratives, and the Human Experience of Well-Being — Pallavi
- Enduring Economic Crisis: Mental Health, Care, and Well-being after the COVID-19 Pandemic — Yusnidah Aqilah Yusiak, Dr Siti Hajar Abdul Rauf
- Silence on Mental Health? An Introduction to Stigma, Superstitions, and Social Work in Contemporary Society — Santhi Chandra M
- Illness Memoirs and the Medical-Literary Interface: A Critical Review — Punnya K
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