Health Psychology Transtheoretical Model Quiz

Introduction to Health Behaviours

• Health behaviours are actions, intentional or accidental, that affect health and mortality.
• These behaviours can enhance or diminish well-being, both for the individual and those around them.
• Examples include smoking, substance use, dietary choices, physical activity, sleep patterns, and medication adherence.

Health Behaviours

• Kasl and Cobb (1966) classified health-related actions into 3 distinct categories:
• Health behaviour: Actions taken to prevent illness or disease (e.g., eating a healthy diet).
• Illness behaviour: Actions taken when experiencing illness or health issues to seek remedies or treatment (e.g., visiting a doctor).
• Sick-role behaviour: Actions taken to recover and restore well-being (e.g., adhering to medical advice, resting).

Health Behaviour

• Matarazzo (1984) further categorized these behaviours into:
• Health-impairing habits (behavioral pathogens): Actions with the potential to harm health (e.g., smoking, poor diet).
• Health protective behaviours (behavioral immunogens): Actions taken to safeguard and enhance health (e.g., regular health checks, exercise).

Predicting Health Behaviours

• Leventhal et al. (1985) identified several factors influencing health behaviours:
• Social factors: Aspects of the social environment affecting behaviours, like learning, reinforcement, and social norms.
• Genetics: The possibility of a genetic basis for certain health behaviours, like alcohol use.
• Emotional factors: Emotional states (anxiety, stress, fear) can motivate or hinder health-related actions.
• Perceived symptoms: Physical symptoms can encourage or discourage engagement with health care.
• Beliefs of the patient: Personal beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions can influence health behaviours and adherence to medical advice.
• Beliefs of the health professional: Healthcare providers' recommendations and expertise also impact patient behaviours.

Theories of Health Psychology

• Attribution Theory: Developed by Fritz Heider, focusing on individual's cause-and-effect perception of events and behaviours. Key concepts include Kelley's Covariation Model, which examines consensus, distinctiveness, and consistency in attributing causes to actions.
• Locus of Control: Explores individual beliefs about control over health experiences. Internal locus of control suggests self-regulation, while external locus of control attributes outcomes to external factors.
• Unrealistic Optimism: Individuals often overly optimistic about positive outcomes and underestimate risks of negative outcomes (Shepperd et al., 2015).
• Self-Affirmation Theory: Individuals have a fundamental need for positive self-image and esteem and are motivated to defend self-worth during a health threat (Schwarz, 1992).
• Stages-of-Change Model (Transtheoretical Model): A model of behaviour change with identifiable stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination.

Cognition Models in Health

• Cognitive models explain behaviours as rational evaluations of potential costs and benefits.
• Key models include Health Belief Model, Protection Motivation Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behaviour, and the Health Action Process Approach.

Health Belief Model

• Individuals' perceptions of health threats, perceived benefits of action, and barriers to action influence health-related behaviours. Key concepts are perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy.

Protection Motivation Theory

• Aims to explain how individuals respond to perceived health threats. Focuses on factors such as perceived severity and susceptibility of a threat, perceived self-efficacy regarding response effectiveness, and cost/benefit of response.

Social Cognitive Theory

• Highlights the role of social and cognitive factors in shaping health behaviours. Emphasizes observational learning, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations.

Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behaviour

• Argues that behavioural intentions and perceived control are major predictors of health behaviour. Evaluates attitudes towards the behaviour, subjective norms regarding that behaviour, and perceived behavioral control over the behaviour.

Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)

• Emphasises self-efficacy as a key determinant of both behavioural intentions and health-related behaviours. Identifies three phases: Motivational/Awareness Phase (Threat Appraisal, Outcome Expectancies, Self-Efficacy), Volitional Phase (Intention Formation, Planning, Coping Planning), and Action Phase (Initiation, Maintenance).

Criticisms of Health Models

• Simplified nature of models.
• Limited predictive power for actual behavior, especially complex behaviors.
• Overemphasis on rational decision making.
• Inconsistent results with various populations.

Discussion/Group Activity

• Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal health-related changes.
• They can discuss how their health beliefs influenced these changes, or not, using the various theories described previously.