BEHAVIORAL CHANGES: (W23):

  • altering an individuals habits, behaviours + responses long-term

  • influenced by: motivation, triggers/cues, barriers, reinforcment

  • intentional behaviour changes = deliberately altering behaviour e.g. quitting smoking to improve health

  • unintentional behaviour changes = changing without deliberate effort e.g. adopting slang from friends

WHY?

  • improve health + well-being

  • increase productivity

  • develop new skills

  • improve relationships

  • stop negative behaviours and adopt positive ones

HEALTH CONCEPT:

  • research suggests that small changes to health can lead to enormous improvements in health + life expectancy

  • health-related behaviours are the biggest factor in deaths in affluent societies

  • 75% of cancer deaths can be attributed to behavioural factors

  • lack of changing to positive behaviours ā†’ stressful life events, social expectations, habits

  • health models are used to predict increasing health protective behaviours + stopping health compromising behaviours

HEALTH BELIEF MODEL:

  • consists of 2 core beliefs:

    • 1) threat protection

      • how susceptible am I? how severe is the illness in question?

    • 2) behavioural evaluation

      • what are the costs of this behaviour? how motivated am I?

DIAGRAM

EVIDENCE:

  • predicts a wide range of health behaviours

    • smoking, cancer screening, eating meat, breast self-examination

CRITIQUE:

  • assumes rational decision making

  • does not account for emotional factors (e.g. fear)

  • small % of variance in health behaviours

  • emphasis on individual-environment, socio-economic

THEORY OF REASONED ACTION:

  • human behaviour is influenced by intentions, shaped by attitudes + subjective norms

  • key components: behavioural intention (stronger intention, more likely itā€™ll occur), attitude towards behaviour (positive or negative), subjective norms (social pressures, friends and family)

DIAGRAM

THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR:

  • expanded theory of reasoned action - add ā€˜percieved behavioural controlā€™ component

DIAGRAM

EVIDENCE:

  • protective behaviours, physical activity, safe sex etc.

  • risk behaviours, illicit drug use etc.

  • detectoin behaviours, self examination

CRITIQUE:

  • do we take the time to think?

  • habits, emotions + irrationality are not taken into account

TRANSTHEORETICAL MODEL:

DIAGRAM

EVIDENCE:

  • tailored approach

  • addresses relapse

  • supported by research

CRITIQUE:

  • lacks specific guidance

  • assues linear progress

  • external factors

INTERVENTIONS:

  • information-based approach ā†’ increase awareness of benefits, costs, skills + resources