Question

Answer each of the 4 essay questions. Your answers should be typed and may not exceed 2 pages (8 pages total). Be sure to thoroughly explain all concepts and theories in your responses. Correct grammar & spelling are expected.

Explain each of the factors of the Health Belief Model. Give an example of how each of the factors can affect an individual’s decision to engage in a specific health behavior.

Answer 1

Health Belief Model is a model which is aimed at changing the behaviour of health psychologically.

It discusses about the beliefs , a person have about health problems , actions perceiving benefits, a belief of an individual engaged in promoting the health behaviour. In order to trigger the health promoting behaviour , a cue of action/stimulus is present.

Factors involved in Health Belief Model are:

1. Perceived Severity :

It refers to a detailed assessment of a person having health problems . It aims to reduce the severity of the given underlying disease . Depending upon the seriousness of the disease ,one can predict the broader impact he/she is going to have in functioning of social roles.

Eg : Getting affected by Influenza is not a serious problem . But the impacts he/she is going to have in case of taking a leave from the company . This will have an effect on the person, in terms of economical consequences. (i.e. being absent from work)

2. Perceived Susceptibilty :

It refers to the detailed assessment of a risk , a person might have from while perceiving a health problem. Perceiving the idea of , 'what a person is susceptible to ' plays a major role in this area. Knowing the specific issue , will help in reducing the health problem before hand.

Eg: People who are at a low risk of developing illness, are more likely to engage in activities such as consuming alcohol, binge eating, junk foods, etc. They indulge into unhealthy activites.

3. Perceived benefits

Refers to the value of a person , engaging himsel/herself in the act of promoting the health behaviour of an individual, thus decreasing the risk of having disease .

An action , which is taken at an earlier stage in reducing the illness effectively .

Eg : A person will apply sunscreen lotion , before going out in the sun . This is done in order to protect himself/herself from the Ultraviolet radiations of the sun . It causes cancer . People applying it before hand can reduce the effect and are less likely to have cancer .

4. Perceived Barriers

An action perceived for reducing the threat of having a health problem . Eg : Avoiding going to places, which are prone to mosquitoes . As it may cause dengue, which can lead to death .

5. Modifying variables

Variables of demographic such as age, sex, race , ethnicity , etc affects perception of an individual . Modifying variable indirectly affects the health related behaviours of an individual . (i.e the seriousness, benefits, barriers, etc)

6. Self Efficacy

This model was designed to study the differences in health behaviours. Recognising long term behaviour directed towards the development of individuals are :

a. to quit smoking

b. to modify diet.

c. to go for a walk .