The Health Belief Model (HBM) primarily assumes that the most important determinants of people's behaviors, particularly in the context of health-related actions, are their beliefs or perceptions. These personal perceptions significantly influence whether an individual will engage in a specific health behavior, such as adopting a healthier lifestyle or seeking medical intervention.
Core Concepts of Perceptions and Beliefs
The model elaborates on this major assumption by identifying four key concepts related to these crucial perceptions and beliefs that drive behavior:
- Perceived Susceptibility: This refers to an individual's subjective perception of the risk of contracting a health condition. If a person believes they are highly susceptible to an illness, they are more likely to take action to prevent it.
- Perceived Severity: This is an individual's assessment of the seriousness of a health condition and its potential consequences. If the perceived consequences (e.g., pain, disability, death, financial burden) are severe, the motivation to act increases.
- Perceived Benefits: These are an individual's beliefs about the effectiveness of taking action to reduce the risk or severity of a health condition. If the perceived benefits of a behavior (e.g., getting vaccinated, exercising) outweigh the perceived barriers, action is more likely.
- Perceived Barriers: These represent an individual's beliefs about the obstacles to performing a recommended health action. Barriers can include inconvenience, cost, discomfort, pain, or time. The presence of significant barriers can deter individuals from taking action, even if they perceive high susceptibility and severity.
Essentially, the HBM posits that an individual's decision to act upon a health behavior is a result of a rational evaluation of these core perceptions regarding their health threat and the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed action.
[[Health Behavior Theory]]
