Health Behavior Theory
A set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and propositions that explain or predict events or situations by specifying relations among variables
Can be:
What are Health Behaviors?
All relate to health maintenance, restoration, and improvement.
Theories
Define and Direct:
Types of Health Behaviors
-E.g., eating nutritious foods and living a healthy lifestyles to prevent diabetes onset
-E.g., screening for diabetes
E.g., maintaing insulin regiment, healthy lifestyles
Why are theories important?
Theories:
Health Belief Model
People’s beliefs about whether they are at risk for a disease or health problem, and their perceptions of the benefits of taking action to avoid it, influence their readiness to take action
-Focuses on behavior drivers
and inhibitors
Key Constructs of Health Belief Model
Problems of Health Belief Model
o Inability to isolate any one
variable (more variables in
the equation- the more
complicated)
o COMPLICATED
o Variability in measurement
o Cues to action not well
studied
o Complexity and Law of
Parsimony (Occum’s Razor) –
simplest explanation is
usually the bestSubjective Norm
Other’s beliefs will influence our behavior/intention if we find their opinion important and relevant to us
Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA)
Attitudes and norms are major indicators of behavior
Primary Assumptions of TRA
Critique of TRA
“Incomplete volitional control”
Goal attainment isn’t just intent/will → also depends on non-motivational factors like resources or obstacles
Theory of Planned Behavior
Corrected the failure of TRA to address volitional control and ideas of self-efficacy
Only difference between the two is the idea of perceived control function of:
Cue to Action
An internal or external motivator to engage in health-promoting behaviors
-E.g., symptoms
Primary Appraisal
The process by which a person assesses whether or not an event is a stressor
Determined by cognitive appraisal
Primary → assesses if stressor
Secondary → cognitive
assessment of resources and
what can be done
Integrated Behavior Model
A further development of the Theory of Planned Behavior; Created as an attempt to integrate the various constructs in previous models
Intention (formed by attitude, perceived norms, and perceived agency) remains the most salient factor
Four Other factors:
1. Knowledge and skill to perform
the behavior
2. Perceived salience (relevance)
of the behavior
3. Environmental constraints that
act as barriers
4. habit or previous experience
performing the preventive
health behavior or a similar
behaviorWeaknesses of TRA, TPB, IBM
Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
DYNAMIC Model
Process-oriented and context specific
Three Stages
Cyclical
Coping Strategies
Many in reality, but simplified in research
2. Problem-focused: altering the
troubled person-environment
interaction
-can be toward self, others,
or situationSocial Support
Information from others that one is loved or valued, and part of a network of people who can provide help or assistance
True or False:
Social Support is Always Positive
False
E.g., marriage often used as example of social support, but if partner is abusive or neglectful, would not have a positive influence
Concepts and Measures for Social Support
Types of Social Support
Main (Direct) Effects Model of Social Support
The effect of social support will always be the same
E.g.,those who have high support will always be equally less depressed for any given point of stress