Introduction
I have recently started my new job as an assistant psychologist as part of this new job I have
to write an essay that will describe reasons for behavioural changes in relation to health it
will include factors that can influence the responses to health and illnesses and how people
do respond to ill health. This essay will include the definitions and concepts of health and
illnesses, the theories for changes in behaviour and the influences on health-related beliefs
and behaviours.
According to Foreshaw, M (2002) the definition of health is “the state where a person
functions, physically and mentally, efficiently and effectively with the relative comfort and
sense of well-being". Illness can be defined as the ill health a person diagnoses themselves
with based on the mental or physical symptoms they think they have, however a disease
can be defined as an illness which has been diagnosed by someone with a profession in the
health sector like a doctor or any other medical expert. (Dr A, Wikman 2019)
A chronic disease can be defined as a disease that last for a prolonged amount of time (over
three months or more) chronic diseases usually cannot be avoided by vaccinations, cured by
medication and they do not disappear over time. (Jr, Shiel, C, W 2018) Some examples of
chronic illnesses are asthma, dementia, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and arthritis.
A terminal illness is a disease or a medical condition which is defined as incurable and is
most likely to be the cause of somebody's death a terminal illness can also be known as a
life-limiting illness as it can shorten your lifespan. Examples of terminal illnesses can include,
late state cancer, advanced dementia, lung disease, heart disease and Parkinson's. (Nolan, P
2019)
Health psychology is the study of where thoughts, feelings and our behaviours came from
and how they affect the individual physically and mentally, it also studies how people
interact with other people. (Foreshaw, M 2002) A health psychologist would examine the
persons behaviour and mental state and try to find the root of the issue if there is one or
just why someone may behave that way, they will also look for ways of how to improve
someone's mental and physical state and encourage them to change their lifestyle for the
better, they can do this by having the individuals doctor to communicate with them and
advise the better lifestyle. (The British psychological society 2019)
P1- Describe theories of behaviour change in relation to health.
The health belief model is a theory that was developed psychologists in the 1950s and
updated in the 1980s this theory is used to try and predict how individuals are going to
maintain their good health or if they are willing to change their health behaviours to
improve their health. The theory believes that people will not change their health
behaviours unless they believe factors that include perceived susceptibility, perceived
severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers or a cue to action. Perceived susceptibility is
people who will not change the way they behave unless they feel their health is at risk,
perceived severity is people changing their health behaviours to try and avoid a
I have recently started my new job as an assistant psychologist as part of this new job I have
to write an essay that will describe reasons for behavioural changes in relation to health it
will include factors that can influence the responses to health and illnesses and how people
do respond to ill health. This essay will include the definitions and concepts of health and
illnesses, the theories for changes in behaviour and the influences on health-related beliefs
and behaviours.
According to Foreshaw, M (2002) the definition of health is “the state where a person
functions, physically and mentally, efficiently and effectively with the relative comfort and
sense of well-being". Illness can be defined as the ill health a person diagnoses themselves
with based on the mental or physical symptoms they think they have, however a disease
can be defined as an illness which has been diagnosed by someone with a profession in the
health sector like a doctor or any other medical expert. (Dr A, Wikman 2019)
A chronic disease can be defined as a disease that last for a prolonged amount of time (over
three months or more) chronic diseases usually cannot be avoided by vaccinations, cured by
medication and they do not disappear over time. (Jr, Shiel, C, W 2018) Some examples of
chronic illnesses are asthma, dementia, cystic fibrosis, diabetes and arthritis.
A terminal illness is a disease or a medical condition which is defined as incurable and is
most likely to be the cause of somebody's death a terminal illness can also be known as a
life-limiting illness as it can shorten your lifespan. Examples of terminal illnesses can include,
late state cancer, advanced dementia, lung disease, heart disease and Parkinson's. (Nolan, P
2019)
Health psychology is the study of where thoughts, feelings and our behaviours came from
and how they affect the individual physically and mentally, it also studies how people
interact with other people. (Foreshaw, M 2002) A health psychologist would examine the
persons behaviour and mental state and try to find the root of the issue if there is one or
just why someone may behave that way, they will also look for ways of how to improve
someone's mental and physical state and encourage them to change their lifestyle for the
better, they can do this by having the individuals doctor to communicate with them and
advise the better lifestyle. (The British psychological society 2019)
P1- Describe theories of behaviour change in relation to health.
The health belief model is a theory that was developed psychologists in the 1950s and
updated in the 1980s this theory is used to try and predict how individuals are going to
maintain their good health or if they are willing to change their health behaviours to
improve their health. The theory believes that people will not change their health
behaviours unless they believe factors that include perceived susceptibility, perceived
severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers or a cue to action. Perceived susceptibility is
people who will not change the way they behave unless they feel their health is at risk,
perceived severity is people changing their health behaviours to try and avoid a
