HEALTH BELIF MODEL 2
HBM Overview
“The Health Belief Model is a psychological type of model was
developed for the purpose of explaining as well as making predictions of
behaviors relating to health especially on the uptake of services that are
directed toward the promotion of health The model consists of six
constructs that are used to explain why some people engage in behaviors
that are meant to promote health while others don’t (University of Twente,
2012).” In perceived severity, individuals perform a subjective assessment
of how serious their health problem is and the consequences that are likely
to arise from the health problem. Those who perceive the health problem as
a serious one will more likely engage in behaviors that are meant to avoid
the occurrence of the health problem or reduce the severity that can arise.
In perceived susceptibility, a person who perceives susceptibility to a
certain health problem will most likely engage in behaviors that will result
in a reduced risk of contracting the problem. Those who believe that their
risk of developing health problems is low will most probably engage in
behaviors that are unhealthy (University of Twente, 2012). In perceived
benefits, individuals will partake in behaviors that are meant to promote
health based on the benefits they perceive to accrue engaging in that
behavior to reduce the seriousness or even the susceptibility of a particular
health problem. A person who believes that using a condom during intimacy
will protect them from Human Immunodeficiency Virus and will use it to
avoid the risk of contracting the disease. For individual will only undertake
HEALTH BELIF MODEL 3
a particular action or behavior meant to prevent the occurrence of a health
problem they deem serious only if they believe there are no barriers that
will prevent them from doing so (University of Twente, 2012). Severe side
effects of a drug may prevent one from taking the drug even if he or she
believes it is meant to cure them of a disease they deem serious. Another
construct of the model is the cue to action. Individuals engage in a behavior
meant to promote their health about a health problem they deem serious
only when prompted by a certain trigger or cue. Physiological triggers such
as pain are more likely going to make an individual take up a behavior
meant to promote their health than in cases where the illness fails to
present with pain. The last construct is self-efficacy which provides an
explanation on the differences observed among individuals regarding
behaviors taken up to promote them health. A difference in the perception
among individuals regarding how competent they are in successfully
carrying out a behavior that promotes their health produces the differences
observed in this model (University of Twente, 2012). Value-Expectancy
This theory explains that the behavior adopted is dependent upon the
expectancies as well as the value attached to the goal that the behavior is
meant to achieve. The theory therefore suggests that in a case where
multiple behaviors can be adopted then only the one with greatest expected
success as well as value is going to be adopted (University of Twente, 2013),
The HBM can be looked at as a value expectancy theory that puts the value
an individual assigns to maintenance of their own wellness or the act to
HEALTH BELIF MODEL 4
seek treatment in case of a health problem such as an illness as well as the
belief that the individual has about the effect of the action taken into
consideration. It therefore becomes possible to understand the behavior
taken by an individual about a health problem after knowing the value they
attach to an outcome and the expectations of the action resulting in the
outcome desired (Gibson, & King, 2012). In the expectancy variable, it is
believed that an increase in the amount of effort increases performance and
thus a goal can only be set depending on the amount of effort one is willing
to put to achieve the goal. The significance of the outcome that is expected
as explained by the individual is defined in the valence variable. The
outcome or expected goal must be attained by the person if the valence is to
be positive. A positive valence will therefore occur for a goal that is
achievable.
Biblical application
The perceived severity construct aligns with various sections of the
scripture. The Bible in Matthew 12:31 talks of every sin committed by
mankind being forgiven, but the sin of blasphemy shall never be forgiven. In
Romans 6:23, the Bible suggest that sin shall be punished with death and
that it is only through Jesus Christ that human beings will acquire eternal
life (King James Bible Online, 2016). Death would be a very serious
consequence and no human being would wish that for him or herself. Many
human beings view death as a serious consequence and would therefore
accept Jesus Christ as their savior only so that they get eternal life. In a
HEALTH BELIF MODEL 5
similar manner, an individual who beliefs a certain disease is as serious as
death would engage in a behavior aimed at reducing the occurrence of the
disease just like the Christians would accept Jesus to avoid death.
Biblical contrast
In the perceived barrier contrast, individuals are unable to adopt
behaviors that promote their health in the event of a health problem due to
factors that they consider barriers and are unable to overcome them. The
bible in Luke 1:37 prescribes no impossibility with God and that human
beings who believe in God can overcome virtually every barrier (King James
Bible Online, 2016). This contrasts with the perceived barrier construct
where individuals are not able to adopt health promoting behaviors citing
barriers.
References
Gibson, P., & King, C. (2012). Health Behavior Theories and Research: Implications for
Suicidal Individuals' Treatment Linkage and Adherence. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788674/
King James Bible Online. (2016). OFFICIAL KING JAMES BIBLE ONLINE:
AUTHORIZED KING JAMES VERSION (KJV). Retrieved from
http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
HEALTH BELIF MODEL 6
University of Twente. (2012). Health Belief Model. Retrieved from
https://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/Theory Clusters/Health
Communication/Health_Belief_Model/
University of Twente. (2013). Expectancy Value Theory. Retrieved from
https://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/theory clusters/public relations,
advertising, marketing and consumer behavior/expectancy_value_theory
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