Applied Psychology (PSYC358)

cues to action (health belief model)

Factors that affect a patients views/ thoughts on disease/ problem (media, family, friends).

Health Belief Model

A theory of health behaviors; the model predicts that whether a person practices a particular health habit can be understood by knowing the degree to which the person perceives a personal health threat and the perception that a particular health practice will be effective in reducing that threat.

Theory of Planned Behavior

the idea that people's intentions are the best predictors of their deliberate behaviors, which are determined by their attitudes toward specific behaviors, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control

Transtheoretical Model

Model of behavior change that identifies six distinct stages people go through in altering behavior patterns; also called the stages of change model

self-determination theory

a theory of motivation that is concerned with the beneficial effects of intrinsic motivation and the harmful effects of extrinsic motivation

Why is health literacy important?

it affects peoples ability to:

-navigate the healthcare system, including locating providers and services and filling out forms.

-share personal and health information with providers

-engage in self care and chronic disease management

-adopt health-promoting behaviors, such as exercising and eating a health diet.

-act on health related news and announcements.

Robert Yerkes' intelligence testing

Risk factors for developing comorbid eating disorder and substance use disorders include

A main goal of health psychology is to

When an illness reduces socioeconomic attainment resulting in lower socioeconomic status, this is referred to as:

According to the World Health Organisation the top 10 leading risk factors contribute to about 1/3rd of deaths worldwide

The perceived susceptibility of the Health Belief Model can

help to define population risk

Extrinsic rewards would be an appropriate component of an intervention strategy in which stages of the TTM?

precontemplation, contemplation and preperation

Theory of planned behaviour in chronic disease treatment adherence

Aim was to examine if the TPB can predict adherence to treatments in people diagnosed with a chronic disease The theory accounted for 33% of the variance in intention to adhere to treatment, and 9% of the variance in treatment adherence behaviour Effect sizes were small Focusing on the theory alone may be insufficient to develop interventions to alter adherence.

theories of behaviour in health psychology

a good starting point for understanding what may predict a behaviour 01 May be good at predicting behaviour, but theories don't provide specific direction for changing behaviour 02 Many interventions don't actually apply the theory (despite saying they do) 03 Focusing on a particular theory alone may be insufficient to develop interventions 04 Additional factors may need to be considered

BCTs in interventions

Can be used alone or in conjunction with other techniques • No clear pattern for combinations of behaviour change techniques in online interventions • BUT some combinations seem more intuitive • More BCTs ≠ more effective intervention

What is the role of theory in changing behavior/interventions?

Theory guides the design and implementation of behavior change interventions.

What is the COM-B model?

A model used to explain and apply behavior change.

What are the five misconceptions associated with behavior change?

The misconceptions are not understanding the complexity of behavior change, assuming behavior change is linear, assuming behavior change is solely an individual responsibility, assuming behavior change is solely a matter of knowledge, and assuming behavior change is solely a matter of motivation.

What is the role of behavior change techniques in interventions?

Behavior change techniques are used to facilitate behavior change in interventions.

How can behavior change techniques be applied to changing behavior?

Behavior change techniques can be applied by identifying the target behavior, selecting appropriate techniques, and implementing them effectively.

What is the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy (BCTTv1)?

A taxonomy that categorizes behavior change techniques into 93 hierarchically-clustered techniques.

What is the recommended reading for understanding behavior change?

The recommended reading includes articles by Michie et al. (2013), Carey et al. (2018), and Bartholomew & Mullen (2011).

What are the objectives of studying behavior change?

The objectives are to discuss the role of theory in changing behavior/interventions, explain and apply the COM-B model, describe the five misconceptions associated with behavior change, understand the role of behavior change techniques in interventions, and demonstrate how to apply behavior change techniques to changing behavior.

What are the benefits of understanding and changing patterns of behavior?

The benefits include promoting health and wellbeing, social cohesion and equity, efficient delivery of services, and a stable economy.

What is the role of a health psychologist?

The role of a health psychologist is to promote positive behaviors to reduce risk factors for poor health and to understand and modify attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that contribute to poor health outcomes.

What is the importance of changing behavior in promoting positive health outcomes?

Changing behavior is key to promoting positive health outcomes.

Give an example of changing behavior to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Increasing physical activity levels.

Why is it not always easy to change behavior?

Changing behavior can be challenging due to various factors such as habits, social influences, and personal barriers.

What is the role of theory in behavior change interventions?

Theories provide a framework for understanding the processes underlying health behaviors and help in predicting, explaining, and designing interventions.

What is the Theory of Planned Behaviour?

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) is a psychological theory that explains how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence behavioral intentions and subsequent behavior.

How was the Theory of Planned Behaviour used in a study on chronic disease treatment adherence?

The study aimed to predict adherence to treatments in people with chronic diseases and found that the TPB accounted for 33% of the variance in intention to adhere to treatment and 9% of the variance in treatment adherence behavior.

What were the findings regarding the effectiveness of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in health behavior interventions?

The studies assessing the effectiveness of the theory were rarely explicit about its use, and the effectiveness of the interventions was not related to the use of the theory in developing them.

What is the Health Belief Model?

The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a psychological model that explains and predicts health behaviors by considering individual beliefs about susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers.

How was the Health Belief Model used in a study on breast cancer screening?

The study aimed to assess the utility of HBM in predicting breast cancer screening behavior and found that it provided a theoretical guide for predicting such behavior.

What are some additional factors to consider in behavior change interventions besides the theory being used?

Besides the theory, additional factors such as social influences, environmental factors, and personal barriers need to be considered in behavior change interventions.

What is breast cancer screening?

A process to detect breast cancer in its early stages.

What percentage of variance in screening behavior does the model explain?

47%.

What is the range of predictive power when socioeconomic status is included?

15% to 27%.

What factors unrelated to health may be more important in screening behavior?

Social factors.

What is the Health Belief Model (HBM)?

A theoretical basis for intervention design in adherence.

What percentage of studies reported significant improvements in adherence using the HBM?

78%.

What percentage of studies showed moderate to large effects using the HBM?

39%.

How many studies used the HBM in its entirety?

Only 6 studies.

Is intervention success related to the HBM construct addressed?

No, it appeared to be unrelated.

What is the use of theory in medication adherence interventions?

Theory-based interventions reported significant but moderate improvements in medication adherence behaviors.

Were theories applied correctly in the interventions?

No, they may not have been applied correctly.

Do health behavior theories provide specific suggestions for changing behavioral determinants?

No, they may not provide specific suggestions.

Are theories of health behavior a good starting point for understanding behavior?

Yes, they are a good starting point.

Do theories provide specific direction for changing behavior?

No, they don't provide specific direction.

Do many interventions actually apply the theory?

No, despite saying they do.

Is focusing on a particular theory alone sufficient to develop interventions?

No, it may be insufficient.

What additional factors may need to be considered in interventions?

Other factors unrelated to the theory.

Is there consistent evidence of effectiveness of interventions to reduce salt intake?

No, there is inconsistent evidence.

What hinders conclusions of intervention effectiveness in reducing the decline in physical activity during pregnancy?

Lack of high-quality studies.

What are the effects of interventions on behavior?

Modest and variable effects.

What is the purpose of providing sufficient detail in interventions?

To allow replication

What is the importance of clear, consistent use of terminology in interventions?

To ensure understanding and communication

What is varenicline?

A pharmaceutical intervention for smoking cessation

What is the mechanism of action of varenicline?

Activity at a subtype of the nicotinic receptor where its binding produces agonistic activity while simultaneously preventing binding to a4b2 receptors

What is behavioural counselling?

A behavioural intervention for smoking cessation

What are the components of behavioural counselling?

Reviewing smoking history and motivation to quit, helping identify high-risk situations, providing non-specific support

What is the COM-B Model?

A model for behavior change

What are behaviour change techniques (BCTs)?

Specific, irreducible components of an intervention designed to change behavior

How are behaviour change techniques used in interventions?

They are used to break down the active ingredients of an intervention and reflect different mechanisms of action

What is the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions?

To determine if they are successful in achieving their goals

What is the purpose of replicating interventions?

To test if the same results can be achieved in different settings or populations

What is the purpose of improving interventions?

To enhance their effectiveness and efficiency

What are some examples of behaviour change techniques?

Shaping knowledge, self-belief

How can behaviour change techniques be used in interventions?

They can be used alone or in conjunction with other techniques

Is there a clear pattern for combinations of behaviour change techniques in online interventions?

No, but some combinations seem more intuitive

Does using more behaviour change techniques necessarily make an intervention more effective?

No, more BCTs does not always equal a more effective intervention

What is the difference between behaviour and outcome in interventions?

Behaviour refers to the explicit actions or behaviors targeted for change, while outcome refers to the desired result or goal of the intervention

What is behaviour change?

Changing one's actions or habits

Give an example of behaviour change.

Reducing unhealthy snacking

What is the outcome of engaging in changed behaviour?

Losing 0.5kg per week

Define forming.

Creating a new positive/healthy habit/behaviour

Define breaking.

Stopping an old negative/unhealthy habit/behaviour

What happens when a new positive/healthy/neutral behaviour replaces an old negative/unhealthy behaviour?

Substituting

What is a misconception in behaviour change?

Education alone is effective enough to change behaviour

Is everyone motivated to change unwanted behaviour/s?

No, not everyone has the motivation to change

Does change happen overnight?

No, change takes time

Are all behaviours easy to change?

No, not all behaviours are easy to change

Is maintaining new/changed behaviour/s easy?

No, maintaining new/changed behaviours can be challenging

What are potentially helpful behaviour change techniques?

Goal setting, self-monitoring of behaviour, social support, adding objects to the environment, habit formation

What is goal setting?

Setting or agreeing on a goal defined in terms of the behaviour to be achieved

Give an example of goal setting.

I will go for a 5km jog every morning before work

What is self-monitoring of behaviour?

Monitoring and recording one's behaviour as part of a behaviour change strategy

Give an example of self-monitoring of behaviour.

Using a health app or a daily record/diary to track behaviour

What is social support?

Receiving support from others during the behaviour change process

Give an example of social support.

Joining a community morning running group

What is habit formation?

Creating a habit that helps in maintaining the changed behaviour

What are some examples of habit formation?

Crossing off days on a calendar or adding objects to the environment

What is the definition of 'Advise on, arrange or provide social support or non-contingent praise or reward for performance of the behaviour'?

Encouragement and counseling directed at the behavior

What is the definition of 'Habit formation'?

Rehearsal and repetition of the behavior in the same context

What are intuitive combinations of BCTs?

Combinations of BCTs that work through the same mechanism of action, map directly onto predictors in a theory, or make sense together

What is the definition of 'Antecedents'?

Factors that precede and influence behavior

What is the definition of 'Restructuring the physical environment'?

Changing the physical environment to facilitate behavior change

What is the definition of 'Adding objects to the environment'?

Adding objects to facilitate performance of the behavior

What are BCTs that work through the same mechanism of action?

BCTs that have similar effects on behavior change