Session 4: Health Behavior Flashcards
What is health-related behavior?
Anything that may promote good health or lead to illness
What are the 3 theories that help understand people’s health related behavior?
- Learning theories
- Social cognition models
- Integrative model - COM-B
What are 2 learning theories?
Classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by associating environmental or emotional cues to certain behavior
How do you use classical conditioning to change health behavior?
Identifying cues and avoid them
Change association with cues
What is operant conditioning?
People learn what behavior is good or bad based on the consequences (reward of punishment)
What is an example of classical conditioning?
Cues with connection to using drugs can trigger behavior and lead to relapse when quitting
What is an example of how to use classical conditioning to change health behavior?
Alcohol + medication to induce nausea causes negative associations
What is an example of operant conditioning?
People are driven by short term rewards like drugs or alcohol but avoid short term negative consequences when quitting
What is an example of using operant conditioning to change health behavior?
Financial incentive strategies for maintenance of weight loss
What are 3 limitations of conditioning theories?
- Based on simple stimulus-response associations
- No account of cognitive processes, knowledge, beliefs etc
- No account of social context
What is social learning theory?
People can learn vicariously - observing and then modeling
How does social learning theory work?
It is goal directed, people are motivated to perform behaviors that are valued and they believe they can enact (rewards+self-efficacy). We learn what behaviors are rewarded, how likely it is we can perform it from observing others, so role models that are more effective is if they are high status or like us
How does social learning theory affect health-related behavior negatively?
People around us like family, friends, celebrities are our role models, and that can teach us to do harmful behaviors like drinking and drug use
How can social learning theory be used to promote health-relayed behavior?
Celebrities in health promotion campaigns
What are 3 social cognition models?
- Cognitive dissonance theory
- Health belief model
- Theory of planned behavior
What is the cognitive dissonance theory?
People feel discomfort when their beliefs are inconsistent or when actions or events around them don’t match their beliefs, so they end up changing beliefs or behavior to reduce discomfort
What is an example of how cognitive dissonance theory is used to promote health-related behavior?
Providing uncomfortable health information creates mental discomfort and can prompt change in behavior
What is the 2 components of the health belief model?
- Beliefs about health threat (perceived susceptibility and severity)
- Beliefs about health-related behavior (perceived benefits and barriers)
What is the health belief model used for?
Help us understand why people make a decision in terms of healthcare
What are the 3 components of theory of planned behavior?
- Attitude toward behavior
- Subjective norm
- Perceived control
What is the intention behavior gap?
Inability to translate intention into behavior
What are the 3 steps of an integrative model for targeted intervention?
- Specify behavior to be changed
- Understand nature of behavior and underpinning influences
- Choose behavior change technique matched to diagnosis
What are 3 reasons why people don’t behave in ways that promote health?
- Lack of capability (inadequate knowledge)
- Insufficient opportunity
- Motivation at key moments to engage in healthy behavior is lacking bc healthy usually difficult, unhealthy usually enjoyable
