Theories of Health Behaviors

1. Theories of Health Behaviors Gero 302

2. Health Belief Model • Has intuitive Logic and clearly stated central tenents • Behind the HBM values and expectancy beliefs guide individual behavior • We engage in health behaviors to reduce the possibility of threats with severe consequences • It is perceived that there are benefits and barriers in taking action. • Cues to action may be things such as symptoms, MD recommendations, media

3. HBM • Self-efficacy is the perceived probability that the behavior attempted will be successful and relates to repeated or habitual behaviors such as physical activity. • Symptoms are central to an individual’s experience with disease. HBM and Self-Regulation Model use this explicitly-symptoms cue to action that prompt behavior. There is a strong belief that certain diseases always cause recognizable symptoms and thus screening programs are often unsuccessful

4. HBM • Stats of HBM and study design need to be examined carefully. Interpretation can be skewed-beliefs can motivate behavior but behavior can cause people to reassess their beliefs-people can align or re-align their beliefs to match their behaviors. • Social, interpersonal and contextual issues must be considered-these may not be directly health related but play an important part in shaping health behaviors.

5. HBM • HBM constructs can be measured by a variety of techniques from clinical interviews to population based surveys

6. Theory of Planned Behavior • TPB suggests behavior reflects expected value. This model applies to self protection and consumer behaviors • Attitudes are linked to subjective norms and perceived behavioral control through right intentions, which then leads to behavior • Intentions can change over time as can attitudes making that relationship to behavior a moving target. People do not form intentions for all behaviors, especially if the action time is a long way away

7. TTM • To measure impact there are pilot studies, interviews, it is demanding and costly, and can result in lower participation rates. • There is a focus on the specificity of the intended behavioral change • Much of this work is supported by existing data from lab experiments, field studies and health behavior interventions.

8. Transtheoretical Model • This focuses on changes in behavior and less on cognitive variables. The model argues that people are in different stages of readiness to make health behavior changes and these stages are qualitatively different with regards to constructs and processes that move people closer to behavior. People should receive interventions appropriate for their stage in the behavior change process

9. TTM • Assess the stage of change, then provide guided, self-initiated or other interventions suited to their needs. • Stage based interventions to increase physical activity, stopping smoking etc. • Stage identification is complex and changes and many steps occur between theory and application or why an intervention using a particular theory is unsuccessful

10. Precaution Adoption Model • People go through stages before modifying their behavior. There is an unaware of risk stage, and a stage where people have decided not to act • The model focuses on the role of risk perceptions (awareness of the Avian Flu)

11. Limitations • The impact of social policy and social context • The array of higher level influences that affect behaviors-access enhancing/individually directed interventions • Individual incentives, education, larger incentives and organizational change • The maintenance of behavioral change • Refinement of constructs and measures • Environmental and structural factors