Health Related Behaviours, Beliefs and Attitudes

Question 1

Definition of internal control factors

Answer 1

Whether someone is capable of behavioral change

Question 2

Definition of external control factors

Answer 2

Whether the behavior change will have an effect

Question 3

Definition of the intention behaviour gap

Answer 3

When someone has high intentions to change their behavior but doesnt act on their intention

Question 4

Definition of self efficacy

Answer 4

Belief/confidence that I can perform a behavior

Question 5

How has the cause of mortality changed over time

Answer 5

Causes of mortality has changed from infectious disease => chronic disease (affected more by behavior)

Question 6

What are the links between behavior and health

• top 10 causes of mortality
• cancer
• heart disease, stroke, T2D

Answer 6

Account for 50% of premature deaths from the top 10 causes of mortality

Account for 40% of cancers

80% of heart disease, stroke and T2D could be avoided

Question 7

What 8 health behaviors are integral to mortality

Answer 7

Smoking
Physical inactivity
Drinking more than moderate levels of alcohol
Not eating 5+ portions of fruit and veg
Snacking between meals
Sleeping more than 8 and less than 7
Skipping breakfast
Over/underweight

Even when age, gender, SES, BMI were controlled

Question 8

What are the 2 types of health behaviour

What do they involve

Answer 8

Enhancing
-promoting/protective
=healthy diet, exercise

Compromising
-risky
=excess alcohol, smoking

-illness related
=adherence to treatment/appointment attendance

Question 9

What are the 2 properties of health behaviours

Answer 9

Independent
-however you can transfer self efficacy skills to improve other behaviours

Unstable over time, not a linear relationship

Question 10

What are the 3 determinants of health behaviour, social factors

Answer 10

Home

• observational learning
• modelling +ve/-ve behaviours

Culture and legislation

• taxation
• criminalisation

Peers
-social pressure

Question 11

Describe how operant conditioning and reinforcement value can affect

• risky behaviours
• health promoting behaviours

Answer 11

Risky behaviours

• immediate +ve reinforcement
• often started at a time when there is not punishment on health
• nicotine and the reward pathway

Health promoting behaviour

• generally no immediate +ve reinforcement
• long term gain

Question 12

Describe the usefulness and drawbacks of symptoms on health behavior

Answer 12

Some health behaviors have a physiological response which can positively reinforce and sustain behavior

Can be a negative reinforcer
-sustain behavior to prevent symptoms

Can act as a trigger to behavior change
-symptoms can remind you to take meds

Lack of symptoms can cause you to forget to take your meds

Question 13

How can emotions impact on your health behaviors

• postive
• negative

Answer 13

Positive
-excercise in response to stress

Negative

• smoking/drinking/overeating to self sooth
• fear, avoidance patterns of dentist/flu jab

Generally negative emotion focused coping is uneffective on promoting health

Question 14

What are cognitions/belief

Answer 14

Belief and perceptions about behavior determine motivation to act

Question 15

Describe the Health Belief Model

Answer 15

4 cues to act

• perceived susceptibility
• perceived severity => perceived threat
• perceived costs/barriers
• perceived benefits => cost/benefit assessment

Perceived threat and cost/benefit assessment balanced against each other => likelihood of behavior change

Question 16

Which pillar of the HBM should you focus on addressing in

• screening
• risk reduction
• adherence to treatment

Answer 16

Screening
-Most important to address barriers

Risk reduction
-Most important to address benefits

Adherence to treatment
-Most important to address barriers

Question 17

How would you address and explore a patients perceptions

-4 ways

Answer 17

Use open ended questions to explore their views and perceptions

Target perceptions with

• education
• action plans
• problem solving

Question 18

Describe the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Answer 18

Attitude toward behavior
-beliefs and evaluation of outcomes

Subjective norms

• other peoples views
• motivation to comply with other peoples views

Perceived behavioral control

• internal control factors (are you capable of change)
• external control factors (how much will this work)

All 3 will give you an idea of the behavioral intention

Question 19

What is the main drawback of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Answer 19

Behavioral intention may be very high but it cannot predict for behavior

Question 20

What is the Intention Behavior Gap

Answer 20

Explores impact of social norms and perceived behavioral control (confidence)

Question 21

What 3 factors contribute to the Intention Behavior Gap

Answer 21

We assume that we will change our behaviors
Automatic habit
Emotions
-low mood/anxiety => decreased health behavior

Question 22

How would you implement your intentions and avoid the Intention Behavior Gap

Answer 22

Clear action plan that includes

• When
• Where
• How
• Who with

Use cues to to help translate behavior => conscious awareness

Question 23

What interventions to change behavior don’t work

Answer 23

Only information provision
-everyone has different attitudes and motivations

Fear arousal
-leads to increased defensive processing => info ignored

Question 24

How can you use fear to change behaviour

What else would you need to do to do so

Answer 24

Fear only works if self efficacy is high

Action plans allows self efficacy boost and cues behavior
Both lead to increased self efficacy