The health belief model (HBM) was one of the first, and remains one of the best known social cognition models. It is a health behavior change and psychological model developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock in 1966 for studying and promoting the uptake of health services. The model was furthered by Becker and colleagues in the 1970s and 1980s. Subsequent amendments to the model were made as late as 1988, to accommodate evolving evidence generated within the health community about the role that knowledge and perceptions play in personal responsibility. Originally, the model was designed to predict behavioural response to the treatment received by acutely or chronically ill patients, but in more recent years the model has been used to predict more general health behaviors. The HBM suggests that your belief in a personal threat together with your belief in the effectiveness of the proposed behaviour will predict the likelihood of that behaviour.
An example of the health belief model would involve an individuals' opinion about a certain disease and the behavior they encompass to the disease. Mary commutes to work everyday. It is flu season and the virus is rampant. Mary believes that she will not catch the virus because she has a strong immune system. During lunch, she does not feel the need to wash her hands. Mary's behavior to the fact she believes she is immune to the virus would likely lead to her contracting the disease.
Read more about Health Belief Model: History, Constructs, Applications
Famous quotes containing the words health, belief and/or model:
“I would hope that parents and grown children could be friends. When a friend confides in you that she’s going to do something that you think is most inappropriate, foolhardy or even dangerous, wouldn’t you as a friend say so—in a calm, supportive way? Yet I have to be so careful what I say to my children. I have to walk on eggs to be sure I’m not hurting their feelings or interfering with their lives.”
—Anonymous Parent of Adult Children. Ourselves and Our Children, by Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, ch. 5 (1978)
“Friendship is a common belief in the same fallacies, mountebanks and hobgoblins.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“One of the most important things we adults can do for young children is to model the kind of person we would like them to be.”
—Carol B. Hillman (20th century)