Health Beliefs/Health Belief Model

Definition

Rosenstock’s Health Belief Model (HBM) is a theoretical model concerned with health decision-making. The model attempts to explain the conditions under which a person will engage in individual health behaviors such as preventative screenings or seeking treatment for a health condition (Rosenstock 1966).

Description

Under the HBM, a person’s likelihood for health behavior is assumed to be related to four main variables. First, action is more likely if the person perceives himself to be susceptible to or at risk for the condition. For example, if Lucy has a history of breast cancer in her family, she may see herself as more susceptible to developing breast cancer, and thus, be more likely to get a mammogram each year. Second, the likelihood for action depends on the perceived seriousnessof the condition. Seriousness may be judged based on the amount of emotional arousal produced by thinking about the condition as well as the anticipated physical, social, and psychological...