DOI: 10.1177/109019818801500203. Social Learning Theory and the Health Belief Model

Social Learning Theory and the Health Belief Model

10.1177/109019818801500203

Crossref journal-article

SAGE Publications

Health Education Quarterly (179)

Abstract

The Health Belief Model, social learning theory (recently relabelled social cognitive theory), self-efficacy, and locus of control have all been applied with varying success to problems of explaining, predicting, and influencing behavior. Yet, there is con ceptual confusion among researchers and practitioners about the interrelationships of these theories and variables. This article attempts to show how these explanatory fac tors may be related, and in so doing, posits a revised explanatory model which incor porates self-efficacy into the Health Belief Model. Specifically, self-efficacy is pro posed as a separate independent variable along with the traditional health belief var iables of perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers. Incentive to behave (health motivation) is also a component of the model. Locus of control is not included explicitly because it is believed to be incorporated within other elements of the model. It is predicted that the new formulation will more fully account for health-related behavior than did earlier formulations, and will suggest more effective behavioral interventions than have hitherto been available to health educators.

Bibliography

Rosenstock, I. M., Strecher, V. J., & Becker, M. H. (1988). Social Learning Theory and the Health Belief Model. Health Education Quarterly, 15(2), 175â183.

Authors 3

Irwin M. Rosenstock (first)
Victor J. Strecher (additional)
Marshall H. Becker (additional)

References 29 Referenced 3,357

{'issue': '8', 'key': 'atypb1', 'volume': '2', 'author': 'Thorndike EL', 'year': '1898', 'journal-title': 'Psychological Monographs'} / Psychological Monographs by Thorndike EL (1898)
{'volume-title': 'Behaviorism', 'year': '1925', 'author': 'Watson JB', 'key': 'atypb2'} / Behaviorism by Watson JB (1925)
{'volume-title': 'Principles of Behavior', 'year': '1943', 'author': 'Hall CL', 'key': 'atypb3'} / Principles of Behavior by Hall CL (1943)
{'volume-title': 'The Mentality of Apes', 'year': '1925', 'author': 'Kohler W.', 'key': 'atypb4'} / The Mentality of Apes by Kohler W. (1925)
{'volume-title': 'Purposive Behavior in Animals and Men', 'year': '1932', 'author': 'Tolman EC', 'key': 'atypb5'} / Purposive Behavior in Animals and Men by Tolman EC (1932)
{'volume-title': 'A Dynamic Theory of Personality', 'year': '1935', 'author': 'Lewin K.', 'key': 'atypb6'} / A Dynamic Theory of Personality by Lewin K. (1935)
10.1037/10019-000
Lewin K., Dembo T., Festinger L., and Sears PS: "Level of aspiration." In J. Hunt (Ed.) Personality and the Behavior Disorders. New York, The Ronald Press, 1944, 333-378.
{'key': 'atypb9', 'series-title': 'Psychological Theory', 'volume-title': 'The nature of field theory', 'author': 'Lewin K.', 'year': '1951'} / The nature of field theory / Psychological Theory by Lewin K. (1951)
{'volume-title': 'Conditional Reflexes', 'year': '1927', 'author': 'Pavlov I.', 'key': 'atypb10'} / Conditional Reflexes by Pavlov I. (1927)
{'volume-title': 'The Behavior of Organisms', 'year': '1938', 'author': 'Skinner BF', 'key': 'atypb11'} / The Behavior of Organisms by Skinner BF (1938)
10.1037/10788-000
{'volume-title': 'Social Learning Theory', 'year': '1977', 'author': 'Bandura A.', 'key': 'atypb13'} / Social Learning Theory by Bandura A. (1977)
10.1037/0033-295X.84.2.191
{'volume-title': 'Social Foundations of Thought and Action', 'year': '1986', 'author': 'Bandura A.', 'key': 'atypb15'} / Social Foundations of Thought and Action by Bandura A. (1986)
10.2307/3348967
10.1177/109019817400200403
{'first-page': '324', 'year': '1974', 'series-title': 'The health belief model and personal health behavior, Health Education Monographs', 'key': 'atypb18'} / The health belief model and personal health behavior, Health Education Monographs (1974)
10.1177/109019817400200404
{'key': 'atypb20', 'series-title': 'Patient Compliance to Prescribed Antihypertensive Medication Regimens', 'volume-title': 'The role of theory in the study of compliance to high blood pressure regimens', 'author': 'Leventhal H.', 'year': '1980'} / The role of theory in the study of compliance to high blood pressure regimens / Patient Compliance to Prescribed Antihypertensive Medication Regimens by Leventhal H. (1980)
10.1177/109019818601300108
10.1037/h0092976
{'key': 'atypb23', 'series-title': 'Behavioral Health', 'volume-title': 'Self-efficacy models', 'author': 'Schunk DH', 'year': '1984'} / Self-efficacy models / Behavioral Health by Schunk DH (1984)
10.1177/109019818401100101
{'key': 'atypb25', 'series-title': 'Health Care and Human Behavior', 'volume-title': 'Compliance with medical advice', 'author': 'Becker MH', 'year': '1984'} / Compliance with medical advice / Health Care and Human Behavior by Becker MH (1984)
10.1097/00005650-198505000-00014
10.1037/0022-3514.41.3.586
10.1007/BF01186792
10.1016/0738-3991(84)90176-9

Dates

Type	When
Created	18 years, 6 months ago (Feb. 13, 2007, 6:51 p.m.)
Deposited	6 months ago (March 1, 2025, 8:26 a.m.)
Indexed	25 minutes ago (Sept. 7, 2025, 3:21 p.m.)
Issued	37 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1988)
Published	37 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1988)
Published Online	37 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1988)
Published Print	37 years, 3 months ago (June 1, 1988)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Rosenstock_1988, title={Social Learning Theory and the Health Belief Model}, volume={15}, ISSN={0195-8402}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/109019818801500203}, DOI={10.1177/109019818801500203}, number={2}, journal={Health Education Quarterly}, publisher={SAGE Publications}, author={Rosenstock, Irwin M. and Strecher, Victor J. and Becker, Marshall H.}, year={1988}, month=jun, pages={175–183} }

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