DECISION MAKING IN LIFE CHOICES

The project stems from the desire to better understand how decisions are made in “real life contexts”, with the aim of focusing on health and mainly on how cancer patients and survivors decide to participate in psychological interventions that aim to improve the quality of life. Three studies have been designed to understand how decisions are made, changed and maintained in “real life” and the factors that may influence the decision to take part in psychological interventions, as well as to maintain commitment to them. The project identifies that there are several factors that come into play when we find ourselves having to make "real" decisions that can have effects and repercussions on the entire life ahead, for example the context in which the decision is made, social interactions and individual differences. Focusing on participation in psychological interventions aimed at improving well-being and quality of life in cancer patients, we have seen how the issue of participation, engagement and adherence is paramount. The studies highlight the importance for patients that their needs are taken into consideration during both the design and the implementation of health interventions. Another aspect that emerges from the studies is that patients’ motivation may fluctuate and change during an intervention experience, with possibly unpredictable consequences on the maintenance of positive change. In order to reduce the risk of non-participation or drop out it is important that the activities of interventions take into consideration patients’ daily life, future plans and obligations, and the subjective representation of illness.