Health behaviors have a profound effect on health. Besides welldocumented relations between health behaviors, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, there is a growing body of evidence that certain health behaviors are related to neurogenesis. Health behavior change may be defined as a process, consisting of the intention formation, an initiation and maintenance of a health behavior, and finally relapses. Social-cognitive variables, such as action plans and self-efficacy are among key facilitators of the initiation, maintenance and recovery from relapses. The role of these variables may be phase-specific: some variables (i.e., action planning) may play a profound role only in certain phases (i.e., the initiation and maintenance), remaining irrelevant in other phases. Different types of self-efficacy promote initiation, maintenance, and recovery form lapses. The paper discusses studies showing effects of action planning and phase-specific self-efficacy on health behavior change among young healthy adults, patients after myocardial infarction and people with overweight or obesity.
Fear of Pain Questionnaire (FPQ-III) is a self-report measure designed to assess fears about pain across three pain dimensions: severe, minor and medical. The objective of the study was to develop a Polish version of FPQ-III and to examine its psychometric properties. The data were collected among 338 individuals (59% women), aged from 16 to 65. The results confirm that FPQ-III is internally consistent and stable measure of fear of pain and its dimensions. The results of confirmatory factor analysis suggested good fit of the three-factor model. To test the criterion validity, correlation analyses between anxiety, passive coping with pain, self-efficacy, pain intensity and fear of pain were performed. Preliminary results yielded that the Polish version of FPQ-III questionnaire might be a viable and reliable measure.
The purpose of the study was to investigate the Multi-Stage Model (MSM), a revised version of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), and the TTM. The MSM differs from the TTM in the number of stages, stage definitions and social cognitions which are assumed to be essential for progression in each stage. The MSM and the TTM were tested across the stages with planned contrasts and for non-linear trends (discontinuity patterns) in risk awareness, pros and cons, self-efficacy, and intention. In a cross-sectional online study, 778 respondents were asked about social cognitions related to meat consumption. Compared to the TTM, more discontinuity patterns were found in the MSM. Across the stages of the MSM, mindsets were distinguished which differed qualitatively.
Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS) are self-report measures to assess perceived available support, need for support, support seeking, actually received support and protective buffernig support. The objective of the study was to develop a Polish version of BSSS and to examine their psychometric properties. The data were collected in three groups of patients (n = 211) and in one group of healthy individuals (n = 421), aged 18 to 72. To test the criterion validity, other measures of social support, measures of well-being, health behaviors and self-regulatory strategies (planning) were employed. The results confirm that BSSS are internally consistent and valid measures of social support dimenstions. Confirmatory factor analysis showed reasonable fit of the four-factor model (for perceived available support, need for support, support seeking, actually received support). They indicate that the Polish version of BSSS may be a viable and reliable measure of social support dimensions.
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