Psyc discussion 22 PDF

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First what do we understand as health behavior: Health behaviors are actions individual take that affect their health which include action that lead to improved health which can affect the health positive or negative.

It can be regarded positive when this factors are taken in consideration: 1) eating well 2)Having enough rest 3)Being physically active ( taking part in sports and exercises)

Secondly it can be regarded negative when this factors are involve (risk of system damage) examples:

1) Smoking 2) Excessive alcohol intake 3)Not paying attention in your diet 4)Risky sexual behavior

My thoughts about the importance of being able to explain and predict health related behaviors are as follows: The cause of some death and disease are attributed to unhealthy behaviors which I will like to illustrate with some examples:

1) poor nutrition and low levels of exercise are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.

2)Excess intake of Tobacco (smoking) will be associated with heart disease ,cancer, and can also affect a new born when pregnant woman smoke during pregnancy.

3)Excessive alcohol will be associated with liver cirrhosis. In addition it is very important to consider the fact that is not every individual has the understanding or the opportunity to make a healthy decisions due to the community or environment they found themselves,

Model of belief and behavior:

This model help to explain and predict individual change in health behaviors. the element of the health belief model focus on individual beliefs and evolution about health, which predict the individual health related behaviors. It can also be use to guide health promotion and prevention.

But we have to understand that individual beliefs defers from one another which are prime factors that affects their behavior for example:

1)Attitude 2)Belief about Control 3)Risk perceptions 4)belief about confidence

Attitudes: Individual attitude defers it has a lot to do with emotions, beliefs and behavior. Attitude can be as a result of experience or upbringing which can have a powerful influence over behavior. Example, the conditions of upbringing or experience from pair group , friends can lead lead to behavior change like knowing from a friend that smoking and alcohol intake can give you relaxation, make you forget about stress and pains. It can also affect positively if an individual belief that smoking or drinking alcohol will be a threat to his health and cause him or her some serious disease or illness and also consider the cost of smoking or drinking in this area it will be a positive impart.

2) Beliefs and control: According to Ajzen (2002) is a factors that individuals perceive as being present that may facilitate or impede performance of their behavior. Is also the ability to influence what is happening and what will happen.

3) Beliefs about Confidence; This is a situation where individual hold beliefs about their ability to carry out certain behaviors. Bandura (1977) has termed this self-efficacy to reflect the extent to which people feel confidence to do whatever they feel confidence that they can do. Confidence of belief will also help to build up courage to take care of your health by screening your health conditions and taking your medications serious.

What strategies as a psychologist can you use to encourage individual of low opportunity to engage in health behavior.

Ref: Ogden, J. (2019). The psychology of health and illness: An open-access course. Download the pdf....