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Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
2026. Vol. 34, no. 1, 8–29
doi:10.17759/cpp.2026340101
ISSN: 2075-3470 / 2311-9446 (online)

The common-sense model of self-regulation in the context of chronic somatic disease: theoretical review and possibilities for clinical application

 
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Abstract

Context and Relevance. Chronic somatic disease is a source of long-term distress, as well as a threat to human life and well-being. Modern treatment principles used in medicine, as well as organizational features of the healthcare system, suggest that the patient himself is an active moderator of the therapy process. This implies significant involvement of the individual in the treatment process and actualization of his self-regulation processes. The most authoritative and cited scientific model describing the mechanism of self-regulation in relation to health and illness is the Common-sense model (CSM) proposed by the American psychologist Howard Leventhal. Objective. To conduct a narrative review of the literature devoted to theoretical ideas and empirical data on the Common-sense model and the possibilities of its application in clinical and psychological practice. Methods and Materials. The review included 44 scientific sources posted in the public domain, published no earlier than 2014 and corresponding to the formulated objective of the study. The sources from the databases and registries PubMed, Mendeley, eLIBRARY, Google Scholar were used. Conclusions. The relevance, structure, main components and provisions of the self-regulation model of G. Leventhal are described. The functional role of disease representations, prototypes of disease perception, coping strategies in the process of self-regulation is determined. An overview of current empirical studies, as well as psychological assistance programs built on the basis of this model and implemented in the context of chronic somatic diseases is presented. A critical assessment of the model is carried out, its limitations and proposals for possible expansion are formulated, prospects for further practical application are outlined.

General Information

Keywords: self-regulation, G. Leventhal's model, Common-sense model of self-regulation, model of self-regulation of illness, illness perception, coping behavior, literature review

Journal rubric: Research Reviews

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2026340101

Received 06.06.2025

Revised 21.08.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Abrosimov, I.N., Yaltonsky, V.M. (2026). The common-sense model of self-regulation in the context of chronic somatic disease: theoretical review and possibilities for clinical application. Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 34(1), 8–29. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2026340101

© Abrosimov I.N., Yaltonsky V.M., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Ilia N. Abrosimov, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Associate Professor of the Department of Neuropsychology and Pathopsychology of Adults, Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1981-4170, e-mail: i.abrosimov@bk.ru

Vladimir M. Yaltonsky, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Russian University of Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3337-0123, e-mail: yaltonsky@mail.ru

Contribution of the authors

Ilia N. Abrosimov — collecting and analyzing data; ideas; annotation, writing and formatting of the manuscript; planning the study; visualization of research results..

Vladimir M. Yaltonsky — ideas; annotation, manuscript writing; planning the study; control over the research..

All authors participated in the discussion of the results and approved the final text of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (report no, 2025/01/10).

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