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Health beliefs

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

Changes in causes of death throughout the twentieth century

can in part be explained in terms of changes of behaviour-

related illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, cancers

and HIV. This chapter first examines lay theories of health and

then explores theories of health behaviours and the extent to

which health behaviours can be predicted by health beliefs

such as the attributions about causes of health and

behaviour, perceptions of risk and the stages of change

model. In particular, the chapter describes the integration of

these different types of health beliefs in the form of models

(health belief model, protection motivation theory, theory of

reasoned action, theory of planned behaviour, health action

process approach). It explores problems with these models

and describes studies that address the gap between

behavioural intentions and actual behaviour. Finally, the

chapter explores how these theories can be used for

developing interventions designed to change behaviour.

This chapter covers:

➧ What are health behaviours?

➧ Why study health behaviours?

➧ Lay theories about health

➧ What factors predict health behaviours?

➧ Social cognition models

➧ Problems with social cognition models

➧ The intention–behaviour gap

➧ Developing theory based interventions

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