MANAGING HEALTH BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

Managing Health Behaviour Change



Managing Health Behaviour Change

Scientific evidence suggesting a relationship between health behaviours and psychological processes

Health behaviours are behaviours in which an individual participates, when in quality health, in order to prevent the disease. These include a wide range of behaviours, from quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising to eating right. The change of behaviour of an individual is characterized by changes in action and how to behave. Health behaviours do not occur in a vacuum. There is scientific evidence that suggests a relationship between health behaviours and psychological processes which include motivation, perception, learning and memory. For example, motivation and health behaviour are linked or have a relationship as motivation include an individual's needs (biological needs for hunger, etc) that impact and individuals health behaviour. 

Same goes with the scientific proven fact that an individual's learning, their perception tend to have a significant influence on the health behaviour, hence further proving that fact that there definitely exists a relationship between psychological process and health behaviours. Psychological processes within the umbrella of psychology offer a number of theoretical "models" and theories that specify the personal and situational factors which influence health behaviour, and changes in health behaviour. The theories of health behaviour patterns try to explain these patterns and propose ways to achieve behaviour changes. (Abraham,  Norman, Conner, 2000). Scientific evidence suggesting a relationship between health behaviours and psychological processes include theories such as: Social learning / social, cognitive theory

Based on the theory of social perception or also known as the theory of social education, the health behavior changes depend on the environment that include personal and behavioral elements. The individual's environment influences the development of personal qualities that bring about changes in health behaviours of an individual. The theory focuses on the interactions between these elements that are supposed to identify behavioral changes.Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)

This is a psychological theory that emphasizes changes in health behavior. It is an open framework of various motivational and volitional constructs that are assumed to explain and predict individual changes in health behaviours such as quitting smoking or drinking, and improving physical activity levels, dental hygiene, seat belt use, breast self-examination, or dietary behaviours. (Bunton, Macdonald, 2002).

Theory of Self efficacy

The theory of self-efficacy brings about the scientific evidence that thoughts of an individual impact his/her health behavior and thus bring about changes in health behaviours. Theory of Planned Behavior

This theory explains the fact there exist a relationship between Psychological process and health behavior as an individual's perceptions, their intentions, tend to have a significant influence towards health behaviours and bringing about changes in health behaviours of an individual.

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing individual health behaviours

The determinants of health are those intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect a person's health. These are divided them into four groups that are human biology, environment, lifestyle and organization of health care. Frederick Herzberg formulated the theory of the two factors to better explain the health behaviour of people individuals and claims that there are two factors that guide the health behaviour of individuals. 

A hygienic or extrinsic factor includes the environment that ...