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Cognitive orientation and health-protective behaviors

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International Journal of Rehabilitation and Health

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a new theoretical framework for dealing with health-protective behaviors (HPBs), including behaviors designed to prevent diseases or maintain health after it has become impaired. In the first part, we present and evaluate four common theories applied with regard to HPBs (health belief model, reasoned action, subjective expected utility, and protection motivation). The second part presents the cognitive orientation (CO) theory (Kreitler and Kreitler), which describes how cognitive contents guide behavior. Its major constructs are meaning, beliefs of four types (about self, norms, goals, and general), behavioral intent, and behavioral program. We then describe, in detail, the procedures for constructing tools for predicting and changing behaviors. The third part briefly reviews several studies that applied the CO theory for predicting behaviors such as undergoing tests for early detection of breast cancer, overeating, smoking and quitting smoking, compliance in diabetes and asthma, and coping with chronic diseases. Finally, we summarize major advantages of the CO theory, such as its broad empirical basis, theoretical elaboration, adequacy for predicting and changing behaviors, and ability to account for issues such as the effects of information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Shulamith Kreitler & Hans Kreitler

  2. Tel Aviv Medical Center, Ichilov Hospital, Psychooncology Unit, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Shulamith Kreitler

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  1. Shulamith Kreitler
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  2. Hans Kreitler
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Deceased.

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Kreitler, S., Kreitler, H. Cognitive orientation and health-protective behaviors. Int J Rehab Health 3, 1–24 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766794

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