Health Behavior Change Theory
There are many models that can be used to change health behavior. Among them are the relational and embodied models. Each model has its own pros and cons. Despite their differences, most models share many similarities that are worth exploring. This article will cover some of the most popular models and their critics.
These are the most popular models
There are many models that can be used to study health behavior change theory. Some are context-specific, while others are context-agnostic. The Stages of Change model, for example, focuses on behavior change, while the Theory of Planned Behavior considers ongoing behaviors. These models can be used to guide interventions to improve your health.
Many of these models can be used for studying a wide range of phenomena, including compliance with medical regimens and lifestyle choices of those with chronic illnesses. Many of them also focus on behaviors that contribute to improving health and reducing risk. They may not work if these conditions do not exist.
One of the oldest and most influential health behavior change models was developed in the 1950s by social psychologists. They were trying to figure out why tuberculosis screening programs failed so badly. This model has been used extensively to predict health-related behaviors like early detection of asymptomatic diseases or immunizations.
Criticisms about each model
The HBM was created as a guide for tuberculosis testing in the 1950s. It drew on established psychological and behavioral research. It is an expectancy-value model, describing how people choose behaviors based on their perceived value. For instance, people take cholesterol medication because they value the health benefits of avoiding cardiovascular disease. This model is based on three core constructs: the perceived threat of disease and perceived severity, as well as decisional balance.
Both theories consider self-regulation to be a key component of health behavior change. Leventhal and colleagues argue that people function as a feedback system that changes their coping strategies based on new information. This feedback allows people to redefine their goals and establish new criteria for assessing their responses. Bandura, on the other hand, argues that individuals are information-processing systems that choose coping strategies to cope with threats, and change the way they represent their problems.
TTM has been applied to a wide range of health behaviors, in contrast. One meta-analysis in 2008 examined 48 health behaviors and used 120 datasets. The authors of this meta-analysis found that TTM supported Prochaska’s “strong” and “weak” principles of change, which state that individuals must experience a one SD increase in perceived benefits of changing.
Environmental and social factors have an impact
In health behavior change theory, social and environmental factors are increasingly being considered. This new approach goes beyond traditional ecological models that emphasize the importance of simple factors. Instead, health behaviors can be described as complex systems with multiple levels of influences that are dynamic, not linear, and subjected to feedback loops.
These social and environment factors may have an impact on the way people think and behave in their daily lives. While there is a lot of research on the social contexts that influence health, empirical studies have faced many methodological challenges. Understanding these influences is crucial to successfully changing behaviors. This section outlines these issues and offers suggestions.
Motivational factors: The role of social and environmental factors in health behavior change is crucial. A person might choose to change their behavior for safety or health reasons. They may also be concerned about the behavior of their peers and want to stop it. In these circumstances, health behavior change programs can help improve the situation by creating a healthy environment.