The importance of psycho-social variables in changing attitudes and behaviour

Abstract

A PRIMARY objective of health education pro grammes is to increase the individual's acceptance of responsibility for his or her own state of health. In order to maximise the effectiveness of such cam paigns two components are essential: the targeting of specific at-risk groups; and an improved under standing of how the attitudes to general health issues within these groups are structured. If these two objectives can be achieved, then the chances of attitude change are improved. However, there remains the problem of altering an individual's behaviour to accord with a more positive outlook to health. Existing studies suggest that a correspond ing change in behaviour to match an attitude is far from automatic. These issues are discussed in the light of relevant findings.

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