© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Strategies for Decreasing Stressful Behaviors Chapter 14

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Overview Health and lifestyle behaviors Health and lifestyle behaviors Methods for decreasing stressful behaviors Methods for decreasing stressful behaviors Behavior change theories Behavior change theories –Stages of change theory –Self-efficacy theory –Theory of reasoned action –Theory of planned behavior

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Health and Lifestyle Behaviors Health Behavior: Activities taken by people who believe themselves to be healthy and that are designed to maintain health; a subclass of lifestyle behaviors Health Behavior: Activities taken by people who believe themselves to be healthy and that are designed to maintain health; a subclass of lifestyle behaviors –Examples: limiting sugar and salt in your diet, avoiding smoking cigarettes, exercising Lifestyle Behavior: All of the activities in which people engage Lifestyle Behavior: All of the activities in which people engage –Examples: daily chores, going to school or work, meeting new people, listening intently to a lecture

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Health-Behavior Assessment Before you can change health-related behaviors, you must identify behaviors that need to be changed Before you can change health-related behaviors, you must identify behaviors that need to be changed Take Lab Assessment 14.1 to do this Take Lab Assessment 14.1 to do this After completing, examine the items that could be changed After completing, examine the items that could be changed

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Are Your Behaviors Healthy? Lab Assessment 14.1

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Lab 14.1 continued..

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Selected Lifestyle Behaviors Take Lab Assessment 14.2 to identify lifestyle behaviors that you would like to adopt Take Lab Assessment 14.2 to identify lifestyle behaviors that you would like to adopt Add other behaviors that are not on the list Add other behaviors that are not on the list

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Barriers to Action Barriers to action: reasons given as preventing one from engaging in certain activities Barriers to action: reasons given as preventing one from engaging in certain activities Take Lab Assessment 14.3 to identify barriers Take Lab Assessment 14.3 to identify barriers

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. What Are Your Barriers to Behaving Healthfully? Lab Assessment 14.3

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Locus of Control Locus of control: Perception of one’s control over events that affect one’s life Locus of control: Perception of one’s control over events that affect one’s life Use Lab Assessment 14.4 to identify your locus of control Use Lab Assessment 14.4 to identify your locus of control

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Methods for Decreasing Stressful Behaviors Self-monitoring: Observing and recording behavior Self-monitoring: Observing and recording behavior Tailoring: Making changes specific to the life of the individual Tailoring: Making changes specific to the life of the individual Material reinforcement: Rewarding a behavior with a tangible object Material reinforcement: Rewarding a behavior with a tangible object Social reinforcement: Rewarding a behavior with social approval Social reinforcement: Rewarding a behavior with social approval Social support: Emotional or informational support from a friend Social support: Emotional or informational support from a friend

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Methods for Decreasing Stressful Behaviors (cont.) Self-contracting: Making a contract with oneself to change behavior Self-contracting: Making a contract with oneself to change behavior Contracting with a significant other, a person who is important to you Contracting with a significant other, a person who is important to you Shaping: Changing behavior a little at a time Shaping: Changing behavior a little at a time Reminders: Receiving messages to promote behavior change Reminders: Receiving messages to promote behavior change Self-help groups Self-help groups Professional help Professional help

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Behavior Change Theories and Stress Stages of Change Theory Stages of Change Theory –Precontemplation –Contemplation –Decision/determination –Action –Maintenance

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Behavior Change Theories and Stress (cont.) Self-Efficacy Theory Self-Efficacy Theory –Confidence in ability to carry out the change is predictor of success –Four ways to increase confidence: Performance attainment Performance attainment Vicarious experience Vicarious experience Verbal persuasion Verbal persuasion Physiological state Physiological state

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Behavior Change Theories and Stress (cont.) Theory of Reasoned Action Theory of Reasoned Action –Behavioral intentions are predictor of success Theory of Planned Behavior Theory of Planned Behavior –Adds the variable of amount of perceived control

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Strategies for Decreasing Stressful Behaviors