Theoretical Models
Three theoretical models underpinning health promotion and health education are; The Health Belief Model, The Stages of Change Model, and The Social Learning Theory.
The Health Belief Model
The health belief model is a psychological model which tries to explain and predict health behaviours by focusing on each individual’s attitudes and beliefs. It was first developed in the 1950’s by social psychologists Hochbaum, Rosenstock and Kegals whom worked in the U.S. Public Health Services.
Cues to Action – A cue to action may be internal such as pain, or external such as the media. The intensity of cues needed to prompt action varies between each individual.
Susceptibility – This is the risk of developing a health problem. This model believes that individuals who think they are susceptible to a particular health problem will carry out behaviours to reduce the risk of developing a health problem. However some individuals may know it is possible to contract an illness but feel it is unlikely.
Severity – The severity of the health problem and its potential consequences. This model believes that the more severe a health problem is the more likely individuals are to engage in behaviours to prevent the health problem from occurring.
Benefits – The value of engaging in health promotion to decrease risk of disease. If an individual believes that a particular action will reduce susceptibility to a health problem or the seriousness of that health problem, then they are likely to engage in that behaviour.
Costs – Does adopting a preventative behaviour outweigh the costs? An individual will naturally think whether engaging in a particular behaviour will bring stress, hard work, or expense and if these outweigh the benefits of engaging in health promotion.
Each of these underlined variables takes account to whether or not an individual will follow a health campaign and engage in health promotion behaviours.
For example whether a smoker is likely to give up
The Health Belief Model
The health belief model is a psychological model which tries to explain and predict health behaviours by focusing on each individual’s attitudes and beliefs. It was first developed in the 1950’s by social psychologists Hochbaum, Rosenstock and Kegals whom worked in the U.S. Public Health Services.
Cues to Action – A cue to action may be internal such as pain, or external such as the media. The intensity of cues needed to prompt action varies between each individual.
Susceptibility – This is the risk of developing a health problem. This model believes that individuals who think they are susceptible to a particular health problem will carry out behaviours to reduce the risk of developing a health problem. However some individuals may know it is possible to contract an illness but feel it is unlikely.
Severity – The severity of the health problem and its potential consequences. This model believes that the more severe a health problem is the more likely individuals are to engage in behaviours to prevent the health problem from occurring.
Benefits – The value of engaging in health promotion to decrease risk of disease. If an individual believes that a particular action will reduce susceptibility to a health problem or the seriousness of that health problem, then they are likely to engage in that behaviour.
Costs – Does adopting a preventative behaviour outweigh the costs? An individual will naturally think whether engaging in a particular behaviour will bring stress, hard work, or expense and if these outweigh the benefits of engaging in health promotion.
Each of these underlined variables takes account to whether or not an individual will follow a health campaign and engage in health promotion behaviours.
For example whether a smoker is likely to give up