Health Pscyh Exam 2

Define health behaviors

seven behaviors that impact life expectancy (sleep 7-8hrs, eat breakfast, no snacking between meals, appropriate weight for height, no smoking, no to moderate alcohol, and exercise regularly)

Describe why health behaviors are relevant to morbidity and mortality

Heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, accidents, and stroke are linked to health behaviors; following them lowers the overall risk of illness (morbidity) and death (mortality)

What is the health belief model?

that health is impacted by how you perceive threats and possible solutions (susceptibility, severity, costs, benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy)

What are the strengths (2) and weaknesses (5) of the health belief model?

Strengths: useful constructs and focusing on individual beliefs

weaknesses: assumes behavior is rational, assumes ppl have skills to alter behavior, ignores social context, and for preventative behaviors

What is the theory of planned behavior?

belief that attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control leads to intentions and then behavior

What are the strengths (3) and weaknesses (2) of the theory of planned behavior?

Strengths: includes social aspects, doesn’t assume people want to be healthy, includes a person’s belief in their control of behavior

Weaknesses: predicts intentions not behavior and people don’t always do what they intend

What is the transtheoretical model?

Analyzes the stages and processes people go through in attempting to bring about behavior change

What are the ten successful techniques of the transtheoretical model?

1. giving info about the problem

2. assessing how they feel about the problem

3. committing to act

4. substituting alternative behaviors

5. avoiding risky situations

6. reward for self success

7. get help from trusted friends

8. experiencing feelings about the problems

9. changing environment

10. increase available alternatives in society

What are the strengths (3) and weaknesses (2) of the transtheoretical model?

Strengths: practical and realistic, does not force one method, and acknowledges that people can be at different phases

Weaknesses: doesn’t provide new techniques, and people may be in same stage for different reasons

What are the stages of the transtheoretical model?

1. precontemplation - no awareness

2. contemplating - awareness

3. preparation - intent to take action

4. action - modification of behavior

5. maintanence - sustained change

6. relapse - fall back into old patterns

What is physical activity?

Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure

Gain-framed messages vs. loss-framed messages

gain = emphasizing benefits for prevention and loss = emphasizing risks for detection

Benefits of exercise?

• Protection against at least 25 chronic diseases and illnesses

• Stronger vaccine response

• Psychological well-being

• Weight regulation

• Delays aging (when done correctly)

What is forecasting myopia?

tend to focus on effective components associated with the very beginning of the experience, which is unpleasant

What is sleep latency?

time it takes to fall asleep