The course of illness can be influenced by biological, psychological, and/or social factors covering a broad range of topics that include stress, coping, and behaviors that either promote health and prevent illness, or contribute to the development of clinical problems. Health and wellness are important to our daily lives and this is true even in the context of being diagnosed with a chronic illness such as diabetes mellitus. The interplay between emotions, cognitive, and behavioral/physical factors can affect all aspects of health and illness. Individual differences such as culture, ethnicity, lifestyle, religion, gender, identity development, financial status, and social support should be considered when analyzing the individual’s response to a chronic illness. Numerous research studies have investigated the impact of one or more of these factors in terms of the effect on chronic disease outcomes. These outcomes can include symptom management and/or progression of the severity of the disease. Explanatory theories often describe factors that contribute to health problems, or interfere with prevention activities, and thus provide targets for change. One such theory is the Health Belief Model (HBM) which addresses perceptions of the health problem. These perceptions include the degree of threat in terms of susceptibility and severity, any benefits to be obtained by avoiding the perceived threat, and various internal (e.g., self-efficacy) and external (e.g., barriers to care) factors that influence the individual’s decision to act. Other theories emphasize motivations that influence a continuum of stages of behavioral change. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change is a theory of this type. The response to chronic illness and the illness experience itself can be described by these models. In managing chronic disease, there are coping strategies and behavior changes that support optimal outcomes and therapeutic interventions can be designed for greater effectiveness by using these two models. For your paper you will choose from the two options below. The option you choose will provide the focus and title for your paper. Option A:  Diabetes Mellitus and the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change Option B:   Diabetes Mellitus and the Health Belief Model To support your work, you will perform research using the Ashford University Library and/or other search methods to provide references to support your work. You must include a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources, published within the past five years relating to diabetes mellitus and to either the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (Option A) or the Health Belief Model (Option B). The use of additional scholarly and/or peer-reviewed references is highly recommended. These may be obtained from academic, professional, or governmental agency sources. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, non-academic websites, and media outlet sites or publications are not appropriate resour.

1. The course of illness can be influenced by biological,
psychological, and/or social factors covering a broad range of
topics that include stress, coping, and behaviors that either
promote health and prevent illness, or contribute to the
development of clinical problems. Health and wellness are
important to our daily lives and this is true even in the context
of being diagnosed with a chronic illness such as diabetes
mellitus. The interplay between emotions, cognitive, and
behavioral/physical factors can affect all aspects of health and
illness. Individual differences such as culture, ethnicity,
lifestyle, religion, gender, identity development, financial
status, and social support should be considered when analyzing
the individual’s response to a chronic illness. Numerous
research studies have investigated the impact of one or more of
these factors in terms of the effect on chronic disease outcomes.
These outcomes can include symptom management and/or
progression of the severity of the disease.
Explanatory theories often describe factors that contribute to
health problems, or interfere with prevention activities, and thus
provide targets for change. One such theory is the Health Belief
Model (HBM) which addresses perceptions of the health
problem. These perceptions include the degree of threat in terms
of susceptibility and severity, any benefits to be obtained by
avoiding the perceived threat, and various internal (e.g., self-
efficacy) and external (e.g., barriers to care) factors that
influence the individual’s decision to act. Other theories
emphasize motivations that influence a continuum of stages of
behavioral change. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of
behavior change is a theory of this type. The response to
chronic illness and the illness experience itself can be described
by these models. In managing chronic disease, there are coping

2. strategies and behavior changes that support optimal outcomes
and therapeutic interventions can be designed for greater
effectiveness by using these two models.
For your paper you will choose from the two options below. The
option you choose will provide the focus and title for your
paper.
Option A:
Diabetes Mellitus and the
Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change
Option B:
Diabetes Mellitus and the
Health Belief Model
To support your work, you will perform research using the
Ashford University Library and/or other search methods to
provide references to support your work. You must include a
minimum of three peer-reviewed sources, published within the
past five years relating to diabetes mellitus and to either the
Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (Option A) or the
Health Belief Model (Option B). The use of additional scholarly
and/or peer-reviewed references is highly recommended. These
may be obtained from academic, professional, or governmental
agency sources. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, non-academic
websites, and media outlet sites or publications are not
appropriate resources for academic writing and are not
appropriate for inclusion in this paper. You may reference your
textbook and other required or recommended materials from the
course but these will not fulfill the minimum reference
requirement.

3. In your paper you will provide an analysis of your research by
addressing the following elements:
Personal impact of chronic illness
Impact of chronic illness on friends and family
Methods of coping
Interventions to encourage healthy lifestyle choices
Motivations for adhering to recommended self-care guidelines
Beliefs about illness that support or reduce self-efficacy and the
ability to take action.
Use the following headings to organize your paper into four
sections as follows:
Introduction: Explain how the TTM or HBM can be used to
explain the individual’s response to chronic illness
Body: Analyze the impact of chronic illness on friends and
families, coping strategies used in chronic illness, social and
psychological factors involved in the illness experience, long-
term social and psychological implications of chronic illness,
and therapeutic interventions based on your model
Conclusion: Summarize how the TTM or HBM explains the
individual’s approach to illness and behavior change
Appendix: Complete the provided TTM table (Option A) or the

4. HBM table (Option B), thinking of the diabetic individual’s
adherence to self-care recommendations. Copy and paste your
completed table into the Appendix of your paper.
This paper must include the biopsychosocial aspect of your
research with emphasis on biological, psychological, and social
factors. Be sure to elaborate on these factors using information
drawn from your research and text readings.
Throughout your paper, include in-text citations for all
statements of facts obtained through your research. Remember
that direct quotes (identical phrases or sentences taken from a
source) require in-text citations with appropriate formatting as
described in the Ashford Writing Center. Statements of opinion
should be clearly stated as such, and include a rationale to
support why you hold this opinion (e.g., personal or
professional experience, your research findings).
Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:
Must be five to seven double-spaced pages in length not
including the title and references pages, and formatted
according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
Must include a title page with the following:
Title of paper

5. Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct
thesis statement.
Must include paragraphs of a minimum of three sentences.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
Must use at least three peer-reviewed sources from the Ashford
University Library.
Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center.
Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to
APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.