Unit Two Written Assignment

Health-related behaviors include a broad range of academic disciplines, including

anthropology, psychology, education, sociology, public health, and epidemiology. These
activities affect our well-being in both positive and bad ways. Using the Health Belief Model
(HBM) as a guide, let's examine the connection between unhealthy behaviors and health beliefs.

Health Belief Model (HBM)

Rosenstock created the Health Belief Model in 1966, and over the 1970s and 1980s, Becker and
associates improved upon it. This approach uses critical cognitive and perceptual elements to
determine the risk of being sick. These are the essential components:
1. Perceived Susceptibility: People assess their susceptibility to a certain medical problem.
For example, a smoker may believe that their smoking has made them more susceptible
to lung cancer.
2. Perceived Severity: Behavior is influenced by how serious a health problem is judged to
be. Someone may be more inclined to give up smoking if they think it greatly raises their
risk of heart disease.
3. Perceived Benefits: People weigh the advantages of adopting a health behavior. In the
case of smoking, the benefits of quitting (such as improved lung health and reduced risk
of cancer) play a crucial role. People with strong need for change in their health condition
can start through small benefits of quitting unhealthy and then perceiving the benefits of
being healthy.
4. Perceived Barriers: Individuals consider the obstacles or costs associated with behavior
change. For smokers, barriers might include nicotine cravings, withdrawal symptoms,
and social pressure.
5. Cues to Action: Action is prompted by outside factors. These cues can be situational
(like feeling symptoms), interpersonal (like advice from a doctor), or informative (like
health campaigns).
6. Self-Efficacy: Belief in one’s ability to carry out a specific behavior. Smokers who doubt
their ability to quit may struggle with cessation.
Psychosocial Influences on Unhealthy Behaviors
Let’s explore the psychosocial factors that impact unhealthy behaviors:
1. Emotional Factors:
o Stress: High stress levels may drive individuals to smoke, overeat, or engage in
other unhealthy coping mechanisms.
o Depression and Anxiety: Mental health conditions can lead to poor eating habits,
substance abuse, and disrupted sleep. Now a days depression is common for
people in adult age and lead them to bad health and even to death.
2. Social Factors:
o Peer Influence: Social circles play a significant role. Smokers often continue the
habit due to peer pressure or social bonding. If a boy has three close friends who
are addicted for smoking, and then he will also be like with his friends easily, so
peer influence has high impact on the unhealthy behavior of individuals.
o Family Norms: Growing up in a household where unhealthy behaviors are
accepted can perpetuate those habits.
 3. Financial Factors:
o Cost of Health Behaviors: Smoking, excessive drinking, and poor eating can
strain finances.
o Access to Healthcare: finance has direct linkage with the health behavior of
individuals in different ways. People with good financial condition has easy
access for food enrich with healthful minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, and
proteins. Lack of financial resources may hinder health screenings and preventive
care.

Reference

Health Beliefs: (https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_332)