Why do people behave in healthcompromising ways

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Why do people behave in health-compromising ways?
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Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned
Behavior(TRA/TPB)

• Individual motivation

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TRA/TPB

• Theory of Reasoned Action evolved into the Theory
  of Planned Behavior
• TRA Fishbein, 1967
• TPB Ajzen Fishbein, 1980
• TRA Developed to explain volitional behaviors
• Assumption beliefs important

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TRA/TPB

• Works moderately well when behavior is very
  specifically defined
• Not well when we are trying to understand global
  behavior
• Barring unforeseen events, a person will usually
  act in accordance with his or her intentions
  (Ajzen Fishbein, 1980, p. 5).
• The best predictor of future behavior is past
  behavior.

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TRA/TPB

• Both theories focus on intentions rather than
  behavior itself
• Intent is a measure of motivation or readiness to
  act

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TRA/TPB

• Should be applied in situations in which people
  are aware of the negative consequences of their
  behavior (e.g., eating high fat diet, drinking
  and driving, smoking, not wearing seat belt)

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TRA/TPB

• In both theories
• Beliefs are the building blocks of attitudes
• Attitudes toward the behavior and attitudes about
  what important others think they should do
  (subjective norms) are associated with the
  intention to behave in a certain way

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(Degree of favorable or unfavorable evaluation of
the behavior. Includes belief about what will
happen if behavior is engaged.
Attitude toward The behavior
Subjective Norm
Behavioral Intention
Behavior
(Likelihood of Performing behavior)
(What others think Motivation to comply)
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TPB

• Theory of Planned Behavior adds a construct
  concerned with perceived control over
  performance of the behavior.
• Past behavior
• Locus of control
• Self-efficacy

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TPB
(Degree of favorable or unfavorable evaluation of
the behavior. Includes belief about what will
happen if behavior is engaged.
Attitude toward The behavior
(
Subjective Norm
Intention
Behavior
(What others think Motivation to comply)
(Likelihood of Performing behavior)
Perceived behavioral control
(Self-Efficacy)
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TPB asserts that behavioral intention is
influenced by three major variables

• ATTITUDE toward the behavior
• Degree to which the client has made a favorable
  or an unfavorable evaluation of the behavior.
  This includes the clients belief about what will
  happen if he or she participates in the behavior
  and the extent to which he or she cares about the
  outcome of engaging in the behavior.
• Attitudes toward the expected net outcomes or
  result of the behavior, are important
  determinants of behavior.
• Ex Favorite uncle who smokes
• Feels grown up

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TPB Cont

• SUBJECTIVE NORMS
• The perceived social pressure to participate in
  or to refuse to participate in a behavior
  constitutes the foundation of this variable.
  Norms reflect how much an individuals families
  and friends will approve of a behavior and how
  much motivation there is to comply with the
  wishes of family and friends.
• People are influenced by other people
• Ex. Powerful Others and
• What the person perceives what they will think

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TPB Cont

• PERCEIVED BEHAVIORAL CONTROL
• This variable includes the individuals belief
  about the ease or difficulty of performing a
  behavior, based on the individuals belief about
  how much control he or she has over the behavior
  and his or her perceived ability to do the
  behavior.
• Some behaviors are more complicated than others
• Individuals motivation to take action is
  influenced by the individuals perception of how
  difficult the behavior is

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What can Behavior Change Specialist Do When

• Client expresses intentions to act in healthy
  ways
• Encourage client to sign and post behavior change
  contract

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Attitude Towards The Behavior

• Client can investigate the short-term effects of
  smoking and determine how those effects might
  influence their quality of life.
• Coach can ask client to explain possible outcomes
  if they dont change their eating habits. Would
  they anticipate a different outcome if they chose
  to eat healthier?

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Subjective Norms

• Coach can help clients clarify actual norms (e.g.
  clients often overestimate the number of people
  who practice an unhealthy behavior, such as
  smoking. It is important clients understand that
  the majority of people do not smoke. Use data to
  emphasize.
• Encourage clients to write about or verbalize
  healthy behaviors in which they do participate
  (this confirms norms).

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Perceived Behavior Control

• Encourage clients to practice peer-resistance
  skills before they are pressured to engage in a
  risky or unhealthy behaviors.
• Teach how to say no
• Teach clients how and where to access valid and
  reliable health information.
• Encourage client to participate in a health
  behavior change project.

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Theory of Planned Behavior

• Telljohann, S.K., Symons, C.W., Pateman, B.
  (2007). Health education Elementary and Middle
  School Applications (5th ed.). Boston
  McGraw-Hill.

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Someone likely to drink and drive

• ATTITUDE Bob feels more at ease with others when
  he drinks (beliefs about the consequences and
  values)
• SUBJ NORM Bob feels that his colleagues
  encourage him to drink after work (belief) and he
  wants them to like him (motivation to comply)
• INTENTION Bob intends (expects) to drink with
  his colleagues after work and then drive home one
  or more times in the next 30 days (intentions).

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References

• Glanz, K., Lewis, F.M., Rimer, B.K. (2002).
  Health behavior and health education Theory,
  research and practice (3rd ed.). San Francisco,
  CA Jossey-Bass.
• Telljohann, S.K., Symons, C.W., Pateman, B.
  (2007). Health education Elementary and
  Middle School Applications (5th ed.). Boston
  McGraw-Hill.