Psychological influences on health Flashcards
What are key behavioural risk factors for chronic disease?
Smoking
Obesity/overweight
Poor Diet
Lack of physical activity/ sedentary behaviour
Excessive alcohol consumption
Give examples of ways we can be healthy
Not smoking
Being physically active
Only drinking alcohol moderately
And eating five portions of fruit and veg a day
Give an example of a poor diet
high saturated fat
low fibre, fruit & veg (< 5 portions/day)
high salt
high red/processed meat, low fish
What are the interventions aimed at populations to help change health related behaviours?
- Fiscal (taxes) and legislative interventions
- National and local advertising and mass media campaigns (for example, information campaigns, promotion of positive role models and general promotion of health-enhancing behaviours)
- Point of sale promotions and interventions (for example, working in partnership with private sector organisations to offer information, price reductions or other promotions).
What are the interventions and programmes aimed at communities?
Used to identify and build on the strengths of individuals and communities and the relationships within the communities eg
- Support organisations and institutions that offer opportunities for local people to take part in
- The planning and delivery of services
- Support organisations and institutions that promote participation in leisure and voluntary activities
- Promote resilience and build skills, by promoting positive social networks and helping to develop relationships
What are the principles for selecting interventions and programmes aimed at individuals?
Commissioners, service providers and practitioners working with individuals should select interventions that motivate and support people to e.g.,
- Feel positive about the benefits of health-enhancing behaviours and changing their behaviour
- Plan their changes in terms of easy steps over time
- Recognise how their social contexts and relationships may affect their behaviour,
- Plan explicit ‘if-then’ coping strategies to prevent relapse
What are the modifiable determinants of behaviour?
In order to change behaviour what must information be?
- Relevant to current goals
- Easily understood and remembered
- Readily available in the moment of decision or action
What does motivation depend on?
Motivation depends on seeing the value of change (Provided by INFORMATION) and having faith in your ability to manage the change (SELF - EFFICACY).
Give reasons why someone might give up drinking alcohol
- The advantages of not drinking (healthy baby) outweigh the disadvantages
- You anticipate a positive response from others to your behaviour change (e.g., your partner also wants the unborn child to be healthy)
- There is social pressure for you to change (very socially unacceptable to drink when obviously pregnant!)
- You perceive the new behaviour to be consistent with your self-image (earth mother)
- You believe you are able to carry out the new behaviour in a range of circumstances (at home, celebrations, etc)
What is meant by self efficacy?
Belief in the ability to change
Underpins:
goal-setting
effort investment
persistence in face of barriers
and recovery from setbacks
Look
Neither willpower or knowledge alone lead to long-term change
Small steps are more successful than big leaps
Environment is important – change this to make change work
Create new behaviours rather than just avoiding old ones
Don’t under-estimate the power of triggers
Goals have to be concrete
Set short-term goals which help you towards the long-term goal
What are SMART goals?
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
