Health promotion Flashcards
Describe unrealistic optimism.
Unrealistic optimism is believing that you are less likely to experience negative health compared to other people or objective indicators that you will experience poor health. The person thinks they are more likely to experience good health or have a good outcome when they do receive a diagnosis of a condition. For example, someone who has had a heart attack will believe they are more likely to not experience one
again, will recover fully after treatment, will not have to make changes to their lifestyle to avoid it from happening again.
Describe the study by Weinstein (1980).
Consists of two studies.
Study 1 found college students rated their own chances to be above average for experiencing positive events and below average for experiencing negative events
from a list of 42 events.
Study 2 asked students to list factors they thought would influence their own chances of experiencing 8 future events. When a second group of students read it they reported less unrealistic optimism for the same 8 events.
This led the researchers to conclude that unrealistic optimism was only experienced when people focus on their own chances of achieving these outcomes and don’t realise
that others may have just as many factors in their favour.
Describe positive psychology.
Pleasant life.
It involves doing things you enjoy. For example, eating good food, reading, walks, sport, watching films, games, etc.
Good life.
It involves feeling you have experienced more positive
than negative things in your life. For example, having a good relationship with others and a satisfying work.
Meaningful life.
It involves having a purpose in your life that is greater than oneself. For example, taking part in charitable work and displaying altruistic behaviour.
Describe the aim of Shoshani and Steinmetz (2014).
To examine whether participation in the intervention program predicted better mental health outcomes throughout the middle school years.
Describe the sample of Shoshani and Steinmetz (2014).
537 seventh to ninth-grade students participated in a 1 year intervention program and were compared to 501 students in a demographically similar control school in Israel.
Describe the procedure of Shoshani and Steinmetz (2014).
2-year longitudinal repeated measures design.
The study assessed pre-test and post-test changes in psychological distress and in well-being factors that were promoted in the experimental condition.
Experimental group had a teacher
delivered 15 lessons to students on positive psychology including activities, discussions, film clips,
stories and poems.
Control group had regular social science lessons where their
discussed issues relating to adolescence but no reference were
made to positive psychology.
Describe the results of Shoshani and Steinmetz (2014).
Significant decreases in general distress, anxiety and depression symptoms among the experimental participants, whereas symptoms in the control group increased significantly.
In addition, the intervention strengthened self-esteem, self-efficacy and optimism.
Describe Janis and Feshbach (1953).
To examine the effects of fear appeal in communication.
200 high school students were divided into three groups, each receiving a lecture on dental hygiene with different levels of fear: strong, moderate, and minimal. A control group received a lecture on a different topic.
Strong fear appeal consists of graphic images and personalized threats.
Moderate fear appeal consists of milder descriptions with fewer images.
Minimal fear appeal consists of neutral information with no graphic content.
The minimal fear group showed the most improvement in dental hygiene and was more resistant to opposing propaganda, while the strong fear group showed the least behavioral change despite higher emotional responses.
Describe the aim of Fox et al. (1987).
To investigate how a token economy could reduce lost time injuries in two open-pit mines.
Describe the sample of Fox et al. (1987).
Approximately 11,000 workers from two open-pit mines in the USA.
They were split into four groups based on the level of hazard of their work.
Describe the procedure of Fox et al. (1987).
Workers earned stamps each month if they didn’t suffer an injury, and extra stamps were given if their entire group was injury-free. Stamps could be exchanged for rewards.
The study measured the effectiveness of this system by measuring the number of job related injuries and the total number of hours missed.
A cost-benefit analysis was also conducted to determine the financial savings from the reduction in injuries.
Describe the results of Fox et al. (1987).
Lost-time injuries fell by 90% in high-risk groups.
Both mines combined, for every dollar spent, between 12.9 and 27.8 dollars were saved.
Improvements lasted for 10 years.
Describe the study by Tapper et al. (2003).
The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the “Food Dudes” intervention in increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among schoolchildren.
The study was carried out in three schools involving boys and girls of various age groups. Parents also participated by reporting consumption habits at home.
The main intervention phase lasted 16 days, using Food Dude videos, rewards, and home packs.
A maintenance phase followed, with fewer rewards and no videos.
The intervention encouraged children to try fruits and vegetables repeatedly, with rewards given for consumption.
The intervention led to a significant increase in fruit and vegetable consumption in all schoolchildren.
Parents also reported increased fruit and vegetable intake at home.
The researchers identified three reasons for the success:
- Repeated exposure led to children developing a liking for fruits and vegetables.
- Peer reinforcement changed the school culture around healthy eating.
- Children identified themselves as “fruit and vegetable eaters”. This self-concept reinforced their behavior.
Describe the aim of Lewin et al. (1992).
To investigate the effect of giving information to help people improve their own health.
Describe the sample of Lewin et al. (1992).
190 patients admitted to the hospital due to myocardial infarction.
