HEALTH BELIEF MODEL 2
The Application of the Health Belief Model on Physical Activity
The Health Belief Model (HBM) was developed explain and predict an individual’s
perception towards health programs. The model analyzes people’s attitude and their behavior
(Hayden, 2017). This model was developed after some of the tuberculosis patients failed to
access free tuberculosis treatment. It focuses on discovering the willingness of an individual to
conform to certain health practices. As such, this can also apply to how people decide to adhere
to physical activity as a health fitness practice. HBM is anchored on four constructs, and these
are ideal in showing how an individual is willing to conform to a particular health activity.
An individual's readiness to adhere to a health practice is dependent on how they perceive
that particular initiative. The first construct is the perceived susceptibility (Rhodes & Bruijn,
2013). It refers to one's level of awareness that he is likely to suffer from a particular condition.
The second construct, in this case, is perceived severity. This means that a person, who is willing
to conform to a particular physical program, realizes that a condition such as hypertension is a
result of an increased weight. The third construct is the perceived benefits which dictate that a
person who is willing to take up a particular health initiative must know the benefits. For
instance, the person should understand that physical activity helps in the burning of calories.
Lastly, HBM involves the perceived barriers. In this case, the model looks at some of the excuses
that someone will use to avoid the indicated health practice. For instance, in the case of physical
exercise, there are those that will argue that it is tiresome or boring (Hagger & Chatzisarantis,
2014). This means that people should have a positive attitude.
