The health belief model predicts that health behaviors depend on perceptions of disease severity and personal susceptibility combined with perceptions of the benefits and barriers of a health behavior. According to the model, a health behavior will occur if a person feels personally threatened by a health issue and believes the behavior will effectively reduce the threat. The model also suggests interventions can change behaviors by increasing perceptions of vulnerability while also increasing beliefs that a behavior can reduce the threat. However, the model does not fully account for emotional responses to risk or perceptions of ability to perform the health behavior.

1. HEALTH
BELIEF MODEL
A P P L I E D S O C I A L P S Y C H O L O G Y
Emil P Benny
BSc Psychology A
Roll no.15

2. Health Belief Model
The most influential attitude theory of why people
practice health behaviors is the health belief model.
The Health Belief Model predicts that a specific health
behavior is more or less likely based on an
individual’s perceptions of disease severity and
personal susceptibility to the disease combined
with perceived benefits and barriers to that behavior.
Introduction

3. According to this model, whether a person practices a
particular health behavior depends on two
factors: whether the person perceives a personal health
threat, and whether the person believes
that a particular health practice will be effective in
reducing that threat.

4. Percieved Health
Threats
The perception of a personal health threat is
influenced by at least three factors: general health
values, which include interest in and concern about
health; specific beliefs about personal vulnerability to
a particular disorder; and beliefs about the
consequences of the disorder, such as whether they
are serious.

5. Percieved Threat
Reduction
Whether a person believes a health measure will
reduce threat has two sub-components:
whether the individual thinks the health practice will
be effective, and whether the cost of
undertaking that measure exceeds its benefits.

6. Using HBM to Change
The Behaviours
The health belief model also predicts some of the
circumstances under which people’s health
behaviors will change.
Interventions that draw on the health belief model
have generally supported its predictions.

7. Using HBM to Change
The Behaviours
Highlighting perceived vulnerability and
simultaneously increasing the perception that a
particular health behavior will reduce the threat are
somewhat successful in changing behavior, whether
the behavior is smoking, preventive dental measures,
or osteoporosis prevention measures.

8. Using HBM to Change
The Behaviours
However, the health belief model focuses heavily on
beliefs about risk, rather than emotional
responses to perceived risk, which also predict
behavior.
In addition, the Health belief model leaves out an
important component of health behavior
change: the perception that one will be able to
engage in the health behavior.

9. Health Belief Model

10. THANK YOU
LISSAH
COLLEGE A P P L I E D S O C I A L P S Y C H O L O G Y
S E M I N A R