Health Psychology and Behaviour Change

Question 1

Define health psychology.

Answer 1

Health psychology emphasises the role of psychological factors in the cause, progression and consequences of health and illness in promoting healthy behaviours and preventing illness.

Question 2

Why doesn’t knowledge of risk factors change patient’s behaviour?

Answer 2

1. Unrealistic optimism -> Due to inaccurate perceptions of risk and susceptibility
   - Lack of personal experience
   - Belief that disease is preventable by personal actions
   - Belief that if not happened by now, it is not likely
   - Belief that the problem is rare
2. Others- Health beliefs, socioeconomic factors, stress, age

Question 3

List 3 types of health behaviours.

Answer 3

1, Health behaviour

2. Illness behaviour
3. Sick role behaviour

Question 4

Define health behaviour.

Answer 4

Behaviour to prevent disease
Health promoting - Exercise, vaccinations, healthy eating
Health impairing - Smoking, substance abuse

Question 5

Define sick role behaviour.

Answer 5

Behaviour to seek remedy

Question 6

Define illness behaviour.

Answer 6

Activity aimed at getting well

Question 7

Based on the health belief model, list 4 circumstances when individuals will change for their own health.

Answer 7

Believe they are susceptible to the condition in question
Believe that it has serious consequences
Believe that the benefits of taking action outweighs the costs
Believe that the barriers are low

Question 8

Likelihood of action to change for their own health depends on?

Answer 8

Health motivation

Cues to action

Question 9

List 4 limitations to the health belief model.

Answer 9

1. Other factors may predict health behaviour such as outcome expectancy (whether the person feels they will be healthier as a result of their behaviour) and self-efficacy (the person’s belief in their ability to carry out preventative behaviour)
2. Does not consider influences of emotions on behaviour
3. Does not differentiate between 1st time and repeat behaviour
4. Cues to action are often missing in Health Belief Model research

Question 10

What does the theory of planned behaviour propose?

Answer 10

1. Proposes that the best predictor of behaviour is intention
2. Intention determined by:
   - A person’s attitude to the behaviour
   - The perceived social pressure to undertake the behaviour (subjective norms)
   - A person’s appraisal of their ability to perform the behaviour (perceived behavioural control)
3. Helping people to act on their intentions
   Perceived control - Think about last successful attempt
   Anticipated regret - Think about consequences of behaviour
   Preparatory actions - Dividing a task into small goals
   Implementation of intentions - Translate intention into action
   Relevance to self - Relate to oneself

Question 11

List 7 limitations to the theory of planned behaviour.

Answer 11

1. Relies on self-reported behaviour
2. Assumes attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control can be measured
3. It does not explain how attitudes, intentions and perceived behavioural control interact
4. There is a lack of causality
5. Does not take into account emotions such as fear, threat, positive effect
6. Does not take habits and routines into account
7. Intention Behaviour gap (only 50% translate into behaviour)

Question 12

What does the transtheoretical model consist of?

Answer 12

Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action (6mth), maintenance, (relapse)

Question 13

List 3 advantages of the transtheoretical model.

Answer 13

Acknowledges individual stages of readiness
Accounts for relapse
Temporal element

Question 14

List 3 limitations of the transtheoretical model.

Answer 14

1. Not all people move through every stage systematically
2. Changes might operate in continuum rather than discrete stages
3. Does not take into account values, habits, culture and economic factors

Question 15

What are the other behaviour models other than the transtheoretical model?

Answer 15

Motivational interviewing
Nudge theory
Social norms theory

Question 16

What is motivational interviewing and its limitation?

Answer 16

Counselling approach for initiating behaviour

Limitation - Clinical impact shown in problem drinkers only, not for smoking or HIV

Question 17

What is nudge theory and its limitation?

Answer 17

Change the environment to make changing the best option. (have schemes, pensions etc..)
Limitation - There is little evidence that it works

Question 18

What is social norms theory and its limitation?

Answer 18

People are peer-oriented and likely to engage in behaviours that is most common
Limitation - Some norms are undesirable

Question 19

List 5 financial transition points.

Answer 19

Leaving school
Entering the workforce
Becoming a parent
Becoming unemployed
Retirement and bereavement

Question 20

Exam type questions

There are 3 main behaviours related to health: Specify the 3 types of Health-related behaviours and examples for each. (6)

Answer 20

Health Behaviour: A behaviour aimed to prevent disease (eg eating healthily)
Illness behaviour: A behaviour aimed to seek remedy (eg going to the doctor)
Sick role behaviour: Any activity aimed at getting well (eg taking prescribed medications, resting)

Question 21

Theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1988) suggests that behaviours are governed by our intentions to carry out target behaviours. Specify the 3 factors that influence our intention and give example for each with reference to smoking cessation. (6)

Answer 21

Attitude
Subjective norm
Perceived behavioural control

Question 22

Transtheoretical Model, or stages of change model (Prochaska and DiClemente, 1984) specifies 5 sequential stages that an individual will pass through in order for behaviour change to occur. Which of the below is the third stage?
Precontemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Action
Maintenance
(Relapse)

Answer 22

Preparation

Question 23

Considering the NICE guidelines on behaviour change – interventions to change health related behaviour should work in partnership with individuals, communities, organisations, and populations. Identify three typical transition points whereby interventions are likely to be more effective. (3)

Answer 23

Leaving school
Entering the workforce
Becoming a parent
Being unemployed 
Retirement and Bereavement