Rosenstock's health belief model 1966

Key features of the health belief model

The model is from the cognitive approach. It considers factors that affect health decisions and behaviour. This is used to predict whether people will be successful in overcoming their addiction.

Factors that affects health decision making

• perceived seriousness
• perceived susceptibility
• perceived barriers
• perceived benefits

perceived seriousness/severity (HBM)

The probability that an individual will change their behaviour depends on how severe the consequences are considered to be.

Perceived susceptibility (HBM)

Individuals will not change their behaviour unless they feel they are at risk.

perceived benefits (HBM)

People consider the costs and benefits of making health changes.
Benefits - changing behaviour has positive outcomes.
Costs - Disadvantages of behavioural change that prevent people from acting

Perceived barriers (HBM)

People assess factors that support or discourage the behaviour. Barriers to making health related decisions may be financial, situational or social.

demographic variables

There are individual differences in how people take health-related decisions, connected to demographic factors such as age, gender, culture, education level or personality.

Cues

Reminders that the person needs to change their behaviour.
•External cues are outside the person.
•Internal cues occur in the mind or body.