Theories of Healthy Living

Question 1

HEALTH BELIEF MODEL
(Describe the health belief model)
Intro

Answer 1

HBM identifies whether individuals will adopt a healthy behaviour by certain factors that will promote or inhibit the behaviours. It was developed by Rosenstock and is now used as a means of predicting preventative health behaviours and responses to treatments in ill patients. It has a cognitive take on processes involved in healthy living as well as looking at both individual and situational influences and so can be considered less reductionist than other cognitive explanations.

Question 2

HEALTH BELIEF MODEL

6 elements

Answer 2

It compromises of 6 elements which are:

1. A person will adopt a healthy behaviour if they perceive a threat to their health if they don’t adopt it.
2. If the benefits outweigh the costs.
3. If they are reminded by internal and external cues.
4. Depending on demographic variables eg age, gender.
5. Perceived seriousness and 6. Perceived susceptibility will increase the threat.

Question 3

HEALTH BELIEF MODEL

Becker and LBTQ

Answer 3

These 6 elements allow it to predict if someone will adopt a healthy behaviour, which Becker investigated when explaining mothers adherence to a drug regime for their asthmatic children. Becker found a correlation between compliance to the regime and their child’s susceptibility. Therefore relating to elements of the HBM and showing that it can be used to explain different levels of compliance to medical regimes.

Question 4

LOC
(Describe the LOC with reference to health behaviours)
Intro

Answer 4

The locus of control is the extent to which someone believes they have control over events that occur. Someone with an internal locus of control will believe they are in control of events, whereas someone with an external locus of control assumes they can’t influence events due to their lack of control of factors causing them eg due to chance.
This cognitive based concept was developed by Rotter and can be applied to health behaviours because he suggested that healthy behaviours will be adopted if a person believes they have control over their health.

Question 5

LOC

Three dimensions

Answer 5

Three dimensions of health LOC
1. Internality
The extent to which an individual perceives internal control over their health.
2. Chance
The belief that chance can influence health-external factors.
3. Powerful others
The belief in the control of health professionals in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Question 6

LOC

Rotter

Answer 6

Ritter studied LOC in a review article based on perceptions of control with reinforcement. He found that if you have an internal LOC you will show more behaviours that allow you to cope with threats.

Question 7

LOC

Conclusion

Answer 7

Overall LOC is an important theory that can help people determine whether they will take control over their health or whether they believe it is down to chance or others. It can be applied to other behaviours not just health.

Question 8

SELF-EFFICACY
(Describe self-efficacy as a theory of health belief)
Intro

Answer 8

Self-efficacy is the belief in ones ability to succeed or fail in a particular situation. It was developed by Bandura from the concept of internal locus of control. The concept believes that we work harder if we think we can succeed and working harder means we are more likely to succeed.

Question 9

SELF-EFFICACY

Four influences

Answer 9

There are four influences that can effect self efficacy:
1. Enactive influences
Which are past experiences that make someone believe they are more likely to succeed or fail.
2. Vicarious influences
Comparing oneself to others meaning role models can be effective.
3. Persuasive influences
Where positive feedback from others can change their perception of control.
4. Emotive influences
If emotions prevent someone from believing they can succeed at a task such as stress or anxiety.

Question 10

SELF EFFICACY

Bandura

Answer 10

Bandura studied the self-efficacy of patients engaging in systematic desensitisation for snake phobias.
He found that self-efficacy is both a cognitive and behavioural concept; cognitive because their perception of snakes changed and behaviours because as the perception is learned from past experience (enactive influence). Self-efficacy can therefore be changed.