health behaviours, making changes

Question 1

What are the stages of change model (transtheoretical model) ?

Answer 1

• Pre-contemplation= not intending to make a change
• Contemplation= considering a change
• Preparation= Making small changes
• Action= actively engaging in new behaviour
• Maintenance= sustaining behaviour over time
• Relapse= possible, due to rewards being too far away, targets may be too high or a lack of support.

Question 2

What are some criticisms/ implications of stages of change mode ?

Answer 2

Criticisms:
- People are labelled as a stage rather than behaviour.
- Intentions to change are not always clearly formulated
- Focus on conscious processes i.e. weighing up pros and cons
- Do people have to go through all stages in a certain order?
Implications:
- People vary in their readiness to change
- Jump ahead of readiness and resistance will develop
- Helping the patient (when ready) to develop a specific change plan also increases the likelihood of change

Question 3

What is the health belief model (Rosenstock 1966)?

Answer 3

• Focuses on individuals’ beliefs about health conditions and health behaviours. Whether an individual practices a health behaviour can be understood by 2 factors.
• Threat perception= degree which the person perceives the behaviour as a personal health threat.
• Behavioural evaluation= perception that the practice will be effective in reducing the threat.

Question 4

Define self-management.

Answer 4

• Self care is a part of daily living. It is the care taken by individuals towards their own health and well being, and includes the care extended to their children, family, friends and others
• It is the process of learning and practicing skills which enable individuals to manage their health condition on a day-day basis through practicing and adopting specific behaviours to manage their condition.

Question 5

What are the network processes?

Answer 5

• Networks are built and evolve through a process of selection of similar ties.

Question 6

What is an example of behaviour change as a network process?

Answer 6

• Weight gain in one person is associated with weight gain of others in networks.
• Smoking behaviour spreads through close and distant ties.
• Groups of interconnected people stop smoking in concert.
• Happiness: People who are happy are connected to other people who are happy.

Question 7

Define habitus.

Answer 7

• The way people perceive and respond to the social world they inhibit by their personal habits, skills etc. Social class is a key factor of shaping our habitus.

Question 8

What are the elements of social practice? Give an example.

Answer 8

• Meaning
• Materials
• Competence

E.g., elements of smoking:
Meaning= understanding smoking as a normal and socially acceptable thing to do.
Materials= Cigarettes, matchers, lighters, tobacco etc.
Competence= To know where, when and how to smoke.

Question 9

What can help behaviour change?

Answer 9

• Goal setting: SMART goals.
• Goals should be person-centred, challenging, involve feedback and increase in complexity to motivate people.

Question 10

What is the nudge theory?

Answer 10

• Improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness.
• E.g., items placed at eye level at a supermarket vs those near the floor.
• Interventions: choice architecture change, found that nudges resulted in an increase in healthier dietary/ nutritional choices. E.g.,

Question 11

What are some limitations of social cognitive models?

Answer 11

Most of the Social Cognitive models assume health behaviours are based on a rational decision-making process. Do not take into account:
- Unconsciousness
- Learned behaviour
- Emotion as a motivator
- Irrationality
- Need for control
- Wider contextual processes

Question 12

Explain the components of the HBM

Answer 12

Threat perception is seen to depend on two beliefs:
- Perceived susceptibility to the illness or health problem e.e., am I likely to get heart disease because I don’t exercise?
- Anticipated severity of the consequences of the illness or health problems e.g. how serious will it be if I get heart disease?
Behavioural evaluation is also considered to depend on two distinct sets of belief:
- The benefits of carrying out the recommended health behaviour
- The barriers of carrying out the recommendations health behaviour

Question 13

What are some invisible network processes that shape behaviours?

Answer 13

• The spread of ideas, attitudes, or behaviour patterns in a group through limitation and conformity
• Networks are built and evolve through a process of selection of similar ties which are preferred and sustained over time
• The role of social class in shaping selection and retention of network ties: links between social capital and habitus