WEEK 3: Health Psychology

Question 1

What is health behavior?

Answer 1

Any activity taken by an individual believing themselves to be healthy for the purpose of preventing a disease or detecting it at an asymptomatic stage.

Question 2

Outline examples of health behavior

Answer 2

Excessive eating
Smoking
Lack of exercise
Eating and drinking contaminated food

Question 3

Outline factors that are associated with health behavior

Answer 3

Age
Sex
Ethnicity
Social factors: family dynamics
Socio-economic factors: fewer resources

Question 4

What is a theory?

Answer 4

*An organized knowledge applicable in a wide variety of circumstances devised to predict,analyse and explain the nature of a phenomena that could be used as the basis of action.
* A structured logical explanation
*A way of examining
* A way of describing a certain phenomena

Question 5

What are the functions of health theories?

Answer 5

• Helps to figure out why people are not following health interventions
  *Helps identify what one needs to know before developing the content of a programme
  *Provides an insight on how to shape the program
  *Helps one to think of some ideas which we might never considered that can result in more successful programs
  *Helps to identify what should be monitored or evaluated in the program
• An explanation of an event that has been supported by consistent ,repeated experimental results and has been therefore accepted by most scientists

Question 6

How are theories used in health promotion?

Answer 6

• They guide the selection and development of appropriate health promotion strategies
  *They help health promoters to understand the individuals, community and organisations they are working with
  *They help explain factors promoting and inhibiting change on individual, community and society levels

Question 7

State the 3 theories of health behavior

Answer 7

Health belief model
Protection Motivation Theory
Theory of planned behavior

Question 8

Explain the scope of the Health Belief Model

Answer 8

Explains failure to participate and respond to symptoms
*It tries to explain health behavior

Question 9

According to the health belief model, what the the components that influence peoples health seeking behavior?

Answer 9

*Perceived susceptibility
*Perceived benefit
*Perceived threat/ consequences / severity
*Perceived barriers
*Socio demographics
*self efficacy :
*cues to action

Question 9

According to the health belief model, what the the components that influence peoples health seeking behavior?

Answer 9

*Perceived susceptibility
*Perceived benefit
*Perceived threat/ consequences / severity
*Perceived barriers
*Socio demographics
*self efficacy : mental and cognitive state of taking control, it affects thought patterns and emotional reactions that may alleviate anxiety and enhance coping ability
*cues to action ; strategies to activate one’s readiness, provide how to information, promote awareness, employ reminder symptoms

Question 10

Discuss how the HBM is applied in :
*Preventive health behavior
*Sick role behaviors
*clinical use

Answer 10

• Health benefit, health risk as well as vaccination and contraceptive practices

*compliance with recommended medical regimens, usually following professional diagnosis of illness, example; Adherence to the art

*includes physician visits for variety of reasons

Question 10

Discuss how the HBM is applied in :
*Preventive health behavior
*Sick role behaviors
*clinical use

Answer 10

• Health benefit, health risk as well as vaccination and contraceptive practices

*compliance with recommended medical regimens, usually following professional diagnosis of illness, example; Adherence to the art

*includes physician visits for variety of reasons

Question 11

State the 5 components of the Protection Motivation Theory

Answer 11

*Coping Appraisal: self efficacy and response effectiveness
*Threat Appraisal :severity and vulnerability
*Fear : behavioral intentions

Question 12

Briefly explain what the theory of planned behavior is all about

Answer 12

It emphasizes that behavioral intentions are an outcome of a combination of several beliefs:
*Attitude towards a behavior
*Subjective norm( peer pressure) regarding performance of behavior
*Perceived behavioral control: self efficacy and possible barriers

Question 13

State the scope and application of theories of health behavior

Answer 13

*evaluating studies
*voting behavior
*disease prevention behavior
*birth control behavior

Question 13

State the scope and application of theories of health behavior

Answer 13

*evaluating studies
*voting behavior
*disease prevention behavior
*birth control behavior

Question 14

State the 3 theories of Health Belief

Answer 14

*Attribution theory
*Health locus of control
*Stages of change model

Question 15

What is the main reason behind the theories of health belief?

Answer 15

They try to provide causal explanations of health events

Question 16

What are the 3 suggestions on how to classify attributions ?

Answer 16

*Locus: the extent to which the cause is localized inside or outside the person

*Controllability: the extent to which the person has control over the cause of the cause

*Stability: the extent to which the cause is stable or changeable

Question 17

Explain the focus of the Health Locus of Control (HLC)

Answer 17

*It is related to whether individuals changed their behavior
* and to the kind of communications style they require from health professionals

Question 18

What is the other name for Stages of Change Model (SCM)?

Answer 18

• The transtheoretical model of change

Question 18

State the characteristics of the stages of change model

Answer 18

*changing one’s behavior is a process
*incorporates all other aspects of other theories of behavioral change
* mostly useful in health risk behaviors
* Individuals go through 5 stages before new behavior is adopted

Question 19

State the 5 stages of change and describe them

Answer 19

1. Pre-Contemplation
   2.Contemplation
   3.Preparation
   4.Action
   5.Maintenance

Question 20

State the situations in which the stages of change model can be applicable

Answer 20

weight loss
overcoming alcohol misuse
overcoming drug problems
injury prevention

Question 21

Explain the following lay theories about health

1.The body as a machine
2.The body under siege
3.The inequality o access :
4. The cultural critique:
5.The health promotion
6.The robust individualism
7.The willpower account

Answer 21

1. considered illness as naturally and real with biomedicine considered the main form of treatment
2. considers illness as a result of external influences such as germs or stress
3. emphasizes the unequal access to modern medicine
4. based on sociological worldview of exploitation and oppression
   5.recognized both individual and collective responsibility for ill health
5. concerned with every individual’s right to a satisfying life
6. defined health in terms of the individual,s ability to exert control