1b) Health Behavior Change Flashcards
Key concepts:
Definition of health behaviour
Definition of self-efficacy and sources of self-efficacy (need to know both) Health Belief Model (Need to know the components)
Theory of Planned Behaviour (Need to know the components) Transtheoretical Model (Need to know the stages)
-
define health behavior
“Any activity undertaken by an individual believing himself to be healthy, for the purpose of preventing disease or detecting it at an asymptomatic stage”
in terms of behavior modification techniques, what are some ways of contingency management?
a) Involve significant others to praise healthy eating choices
b) Plan specific rewards for successful weight loss
c) vouchers for adherence to healthy eating & weight loss.
in terms of behavior modification techniques, what are some ways of naturally occurring reinforcers?
a) Improved self-esteem (positive reinforcement).
b) Reduction in symptoms of breathlessness (negative reinforcement).
What are 3 main limitations of reinforcement programmes
- Lack of generalization (only affects behaviour regarding the specific trait that is being rewarded).
- Poor maintenance (rapid extinction of desired behaviour once the reinforcer disappears)
- Impractical and expensive.
What are the component of the health beliefs model
- perceive threat will be influenced by their sensitivity to the threat
Increased perceived threat: - e.g background variable (age/sex/ethnicity) causes increase in perceived threat - e.g perceived susceptibility - e.g cue to action
- causes increase in likeliness to change behavior
- which is influenced by perceived benefits / costs of a disease
What is meant by outcome efficacy?
Individuals expectation that the behaviour will lead to a particular outcome
(e.g belief that certain action will lead to a particular outcome)
What is meant by self efficacy?
Belief that one can execute the behaviour required to produce the outcome
(e.g confidence within ourselves that we can change our behavior)
what are the 4 factors influencing self efficacy?
- Mastery experience
- Social learning
- Verbal persuasion or encouragement
- Physiological arousal
What are the components of the theory of planned behavior?
- intention is considered to be a key variable in causing change in behavior
- 3 sep variables predict intention:
a) attitude towards behavior
(believes about outcome / evaluation of outcome)
b) subjective norm
(beliefs about peers/family members’ attitude towards the behavior
c) perceived behavioral control
(internal control factors / external control factors)
what are the stages of the trans theoretical model?
cyclic
input) pre- contemplation
a) contemplation
b) preparation
c) action
d) maintenance –> permanent EXIT
or
e) relapse –> back to contemplation
Note: smoking is the no.1 cause of preventable illness and death
-
note: education is important in changing behaviours but often people need more than knowledge to change behaviours, particularly addictive behaviours (eg social & psychological support, skills to change)
-
What are some cues for unhealthy eating?
- Visual (eg. fast food signs, sweets at checkout)
- Auditory (eg. ice cream bell)
- Olfactory (eg. smell of baking bread)
- Location (eg. the couch or car)
- Time (eg. evening)/ Events (eg. end of TV programme )
- Emotional (eg. bored, stressed, sad, happy).
What are some reinforcement contingencies to reduce unhealthy eating?
- Positive reinforcement:
e. g filling /boredom.
Negative Reinforcement:
e.g Avoid painful emotions by comfort eating.
Punishment:
Preparing a low fat meal is criticised.
Limited/delayed positive reinforcement for healthy eating:
Efforts at dietary change/weight loss go unnoticed by others; Avoiding future health problems is too remote.
