Psychological Theories of Health Behavior Change

Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986)

Social Cognitive Theory is an interpersonal theory that covers determinants of behavior and processes of behavior change. It posits that behavior, cognitive, personal, and environmental factors interact.

Key Concepts:

• Reciprocal Determinism: Behavior is influenced by and influences personal factors and the environment.
• Personal Factors:
  • Outcome Expectancies: Anticipated effects of a behavior (physical, social, self-evaluative).
  • Self-Efficacy: Belief in one's ability in specific situations (magnitude, strength, generality).
• Environmental Factors: Social and physical conditions.

Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991)

This theory suggests that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence intentions, which in turn, influence behavior.

Key Concepts:

• Attitude: Favorable or unfavorable evaluation of an object, behavior, person, institution, or event. Attitudes reflect underlying beliefs.
• Subjective Norms: Perceived social pressure to engage in or refrain from a behavior.
• Perceived Behavioral Control: Belief in one's ability to perform a behavior.

Health Belief Model (Becker, 1974)

This model posits that health behaviors are influenced by perceived susceptibility to and severity of illness, as well as perceived benefits and barriers to taking action.

Key Concepts:

• Perceived Susceptibility: Individual's perception of their risk of developing a health condition.
• Perceived Severity: Beliefs about the seriousness of a health condition and its potential consequences.
• Perceived Benefits: Beliefs about the effectiveness of taking action to reduce risk or severity.
• Perceived Barriers: Beliefs about the costs or obstacles associated with taking action.
• Cues to Action: Internal or external factors that trigger the decision-making process.
• Self-Efficacy: Confidence in one's ability to successfully perform a health behavior.

Protection Motivation Theory (Rogers, 1975, 1983)

This theory suggests that health behaviors are motivated by two appraisals: threat appraisal and coping appraisal. Threat appraisal involves assessing the severity of a health threat and one's susceptibility to it. Coping appraisal involves evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of coping responses.

Key Concepts:

• Threat Appraisal: Assessment of threat seriousness and personal susceptibility.
• Coping Appraisal: Assessment of response efficacy (effectiveness of potential responses) and self-efficacy (belief in one's ability to execute the responses).

Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska and DiClemente, 1983)

This model, also known as the Stages of Change Model, describes the process of behavior change as a series of stages.

Stages of Change:

• Precontemplation: No intention to change behavior in the foreseeable future (e.g., next 6 months).
• Contemplation: Considering making a change within the next 6 months.
• Preparation: Planning to change and taking small steps towards action.
• Action: Actively engaging in the new behavior.
• Maintenance: Sustaining the behavior change over time.
• Termination: No longer tempted to revert to the old behavior.