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The health belief model (HBM) is one of the first theories developed exclusively for health-related behaviors (Sharma & Romas, 2012). Although labeled a "model," the HBM meets all the criteria for a behavioral theory. The HBM originated in the 1950s and has been thoroughly tested in a variety of situations since that time. Today it is one of the most popular models, as it provides specific guidance at the micro level for planning the "how to" part of interventions. Based on experimentation over the years, the HBM has expanded and borrowed from other theories to strengthen its predictive and explanatory potential.
The HBM has six constructs, the first of which is perceived susceptibility. This refers to the subjective belief that a person has with respect to acquiring a disease or reaching a harmful state as a result of indulging in a particular behavior. Individuals vary considerably in their perception of susceptibility to any given illness or harmful condition. On one extreme are individuals who completely deny any possibility of their acquiring the disease. In the middle are people who may admit to the possibility of acquiring the disease but believe it is not likely to happen to them. At the other extreme are people who are so fearful of acquiring the disease that they believe they will in all probability acquire it. The more susceptible a person feels, the greater the likelihood of his or her taking preventive measures.
The second construct of HBM is perceived severity, which refers to a person's subjective belief in the extent of harm that can result from the disease or harmful state resulting in a particular behavior. This perception also varies from person to person. One person might perceive the disease from a purely medical perspective and thus be concerned with signs, symptoms, any limitations arising...