Cognitive orientation and health-protective behaviors

Shulamith Kreitler*, Hans Kreitler

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-24
Number of pages24
JournalInternational Journal of Rehabilitation and Health
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1997

Keywords

  • Cognitive orientation
  • Compliance
  • Disease prevention
  • Early Detection of breast cancer
  • Expected utility
  • Health belief model
  • Health-protective behaviors
  • Protection motivation
  • Reasoned action

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