introduction to health behaviour change models

• biological

  • Viruses
  • Injury
  • Illness
  • Disease
• psychological

  • Behavior
  • Beliefs
  • Coping
  • Anxiety
  • Stress
• social

  • Job
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Environment/context
  • Smoking
  • Exercise
• what is health

  • Old concept:
  • absence of disease
  • either you are healthy or not
  • Currently viewed as:
  • health is the importance of being able to fulfill our potentials and obligations, manage our life and participate in social activities including work are equally important
• What is health psychology?


  It is the study of how psychological factors affect health and illness.
• Why is the body and mind considered inseparable in health psychology?


  Because health and illness are influenced by both psychological and physiological factors.
• What is the holistic approach to health and illness?


  A holistic approach considers the whole person, including mental, emotional, and social factors.
• According to Matarazzo, what does health psychology encompass?


  It includes educational, scientific, and professional contributions to health promotion and illness treatment.
• What is one of the aims of health psychology?


  To enhance outcomes for individuals who are ill.
• What role does behavior play in the aetiology of illness according to health psychologists?


  Health psychologists investigate how behaviors contribute to the development of illnesses.
• What lifestyle factor is mentioned as being related to coronary disease?


  Smoking is identified as a lifestyle factor linked to coronary disease.
• How can health psychologists predict health behaviors?


  They study the reasons behind why people behave the way they do regarding health.
• What is the interaction between psychology and physiology in health psychology?


  It examines how psychological factors, like stress, affect physiological responses and health.
• What effect does stress have on the body's ability to resist infections?


  Stress can weaken the body's immune response, making it harder to resist infections.
• What is the role of psychology in the treatment of illness?


  Psychology can be used to improve treatment and rehabilitation outcomes.
• How can increasing physical activity improve health outcomes?


  It can enhance symptoms and improve Quality of Life (QoL).
• What are the main contributions of health psychology?


  • Promotion and maintenance of health
  • Prevention and treatment of illness
  • Identification of aetiologic and diagnostic correlates of health and illness
• why are allied health professionals important?

  • Have close contact with patients or a first contact role or work in a community setting – need skills and knowledge to deliver effective health promotion
  • Work to promote healthy behaviours and healthy lifestyle requires knowledge of the underpinning theory
  • Need to consider the requirements of ‘hard to reach’ groups (e.g. ethnic groups) (Needle et al, 2011)
• health behaviour change models

  • Models are used to develop interventions (eg a stop smoking campaign) to optimize adoption of healthy behavior
  • Most models usually focus on individual health, some look at population health
  • Many determinants (environment, social factors, cultural factors etc.) exert an influence on behavior
• behaviour change and illness perception

  • What we assume will happen
  • information and knowledge
  • attitude change
  • behavior change
• key factors in promoting and maintaining change

  • How and when the behavior is called into question
  • Easier to change if “the environment” can assist
  • Individual has gained control of the behavior
  • Consider coping strategies
  • Social support
  • The skill and competence of practitioner and patient
• social cognitive theory

  • Albert Bandura in 1986
  • Considers the interaction between an individual and how these factors will influence learning
  • Self-efficacy is a very important factor
  • Places a focus on peoples potential to alter
  • Persuasion often ineffective so focus on self-empowerment and support
  • All the behavior change models will look at dall under the ‘umbrella’ of ACT
  • Self-efficacy is key
• promoting and maintaining change

  • When behaviour is called into question – entirely individual as the cognitive dissonance created may be dealt with in rational and irrational ways
  •  Behavior is difficult to maintain e.g. smoking in hospital or workplace
  • Individual gains control of the behavior
  • What helps change (Naidoo & Wills, 2009)
  • It is self-initiated
  • Behavior is not part of the coping strategy
  • Not problematic or uncertain
  • Social support is present
  • The skills and knowledge of the practitioner and client
• health behaviour theories/models that focus on individuals

  • Health Belief Model – emerged from research on disease prevention
  • Theory of Planned Behaviour – emerged from research looking at why attitudes do not always prompt behavior
  • Transtheoretical Model – Looks beyond action to maintenance, which is important for some behaviors