In: Nursing
The theory of reasoned action mainly emphasizes on two elements: firstly the reasoned action predicts the behavioral intention and also limits the influence of an attitude over behavior. For example: a person has an intention to smoke but he do not have enough money to buy cigarettes. Therefore the lack of money will stop him from smoking. Secondly, our behavioral intention is predicted by our attitude and norms. Example: A person wants to smoke but his family members suggests its injurious to health. The person's attitude to smoke is affected by the norms of the family members.
The theory of planned behavior is a theory that links one's belief and behavior. It states that the individual attitude, norms and perceived control over a behavior, influences his intention to perform a behavior. Example the individual's attitude says that if she quits smoking, it will add up with unwanted weights, the subjective norms says if she will not quit smoking then she will not be socially accepted.Perceived control says, quitting smoking although will show withdrawal symptoms but her new walking regimen will help. Thus all this has influenced her intentions so she decides to quit smoking.
The health behavior model says that one will take action to prevent a illness depends on his perception that if they are the risk population, if they will have serious consequences, the precautionary behavior will effectively prevent an action, cost of actions etc. Thus the theory states that the change of behavioal intention or the intention to perform a behavior is depended on the perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and self efficacy.
From the above three stated theories its clear that the theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behavior is integrated with the health belief model. The three models concludes that an attitude of the person i.e the susceptibility, its subjective norms perceived benefits, severity and barriers, its perceived control of a behavior i.e self efficacy will cause change in the behavioral intention or an intention to perform a behavior. If these attitudes, norms and perceived contorl of behavior is positive then it will generate a positive behavioral intention i.e a positive health behavior.