Health Belief Model Flashcards
Who created the Health Belief Model?
Irwin Rosenstock
What does this theory try to do?
Explain why some people do or do not engage in healthy behaviour
What three questions summarise the Health Belief Model?
Perceived seriousness + susceptibility, Cost-Benefitial Analysis
What is perceived seriousness?
Probability an individual will change their behaviour based on how serious they perceive the consequences
What is perceived susceptibility?
Individuals will not change their behaviour if they don’t feel at risk
What is cost-benefit analysis?
Changing behaviour is about weighing up risks:
Perceived benefits + barriers
What three things depend on someone changing their belief?
Demographic Variables, Cues to Action, Self-Efficacy
What are the demographic Variables?
Education, age and variables such as this change understanding of their behaviour and could lead to something not being committed.
E.g. A doctor knows not to smoke
What are Cues to Action?
Information presented to the individual can act as a trigger to act.
These are internal (noticing symptoms) and external cues (health warnings)
What is Self-Efficacy?
Persons confidence in their own skills to accomplish a task
E.G. Little experience in using something such as a condom
What is the strength?
Developed by researchers who worked directly with people who wanted to change
What is the weakness?
Our rationality depends on if we make health behaviours. As we weight up the pros and cons, it’s how we act.
Weakness as it suggests psychological factors may determine behaviours that are not included in the model.
