Health Education Research, Vol. 7, No. 1, 107-116, 1992
© 1992 Oxford University Press
research-article |
A meta-analysis of studies of the Health Belief Model with adults
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX 77550
2Center for Health Promotion Research and Development, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Texas
3Institute of Health Policy Studies, University of California at SanFrancisco California, USA
The Health Belief Model (HBM) relates a socio-psychologic theory of decision making to individual health-related behaviors. We conducted a meta-analysis of the relationships between four HBM dimensions (Susceptibility, Severity, Benefits and Costs) and health behaviour on 16 studies that measured all four of the dimensions, measured a behavioral dependent variable and included some measures of reliability, minimal criteria for establishing the validity of the dimensions. Mean effect sizes were computed for all the studies, subgroupings representing studies of screening, risk reduction and adherence to medical regimen, and prospective and retrospective study designs. Of 24 mean effect sizes, 22 were found to be positive and statistically significant. The actual variance accounted for ranged from 0.001 to 0.09. Homogeneity was rejected for 15 of the 22, however, suggesting that the same underlying construct was not measured. Retrospective studies were found to have significantly large effect sizes for benefits and costs and smaller effect sizes for severity when compared to prospective studies. The weak effect sizes and lack of homogeneity indicate that it is premature to draw conclusions about the predictive validity of the HBM as operationalized in these studies. Our finding of only 16 studies meeting minimal criteria for valid representation of the HBM dimensions indicates that future studies should focus more on such issues.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  R. E. Watkins, F. C. Cooke, R. J. Donovan, C. R. MacIntyre, R. Itzwerth, and A. J. Plant Tackle the Problem When It Gets Here: Pandemic Preparedness Among Small and Medium Businesses Qual Health Res, July 1, 2008; 18(7): 902 - 912. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. H. Saklofske, E. J. Austin, B. A. Rohr, and J. J.W. Andrews Personality, Emotional Intelligence and Exercise J Health Psychol, November 1, 2007; 12(6): 937 - 948. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A.P. Turner, D.R. Kivlahan, A.P. Sloan, and J.K. Haselkorn Predicting ongoing adherence to disease modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis: utility of the health beliefs model Multiple Sclerosis, November 1, 2007; 13(9): 1146 - 1152. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. E. Simons and R. L. Blount Identifying Barriers to Medication Adherence in Adolescent Transplant Recipients J. Pediatr. Psychol., August 1, 2007; 32(7): 831 - 844. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. McClenahan, M. Shevlin, G. Adamson, C. Bennett, and B. O'Neill Testicular self-examination: a test of the health belief model and the theory of planned behaviour Health Educ. Res., April 1, 2007; 22(2): 272 - 284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. S.-K. Tang and C.-Y. Wong Psychosocial Factors Influencing the Practice of Preventive Behaviors Against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Among Older Chinese in Hong Kong J Aging Health, August 1, 2005; 17(4): 490 - 506. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. M. Noar and R. S. Zimmerman Health Behavior Theory and cumulative knowledge regarding health behaviors: are we moving in the right direction? Health Educ. Res., June 1, 2005; 20(3): 275 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. S. Benjes, D. R. Brooks, Z. Zhang, L. Livstone, L. Sayers, C. Powers, D. R. Miller, T. Heeren, and A. C. Geller Changing Patterns of Sun Protection Between the First and Second Summers for Very Young Children Arch Dermatol, August 1, 2004; 140(8): 925 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Sellstrom, S. Bremberg, A. Garling, and J. Olof Hornquist Risk of childhood injury: predictors of mothers' perceptions Scand J Public Health, July 1, 2000; 28(3): 188 - 193. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J Sims, F Smith, A Duffy, and S Hilton The vagaries of self-reports of physical activity: a problem revisited and addressed in a study of exercise promotion in the over 65s in general practice Fam. Pract., April 1, 1999; 16(2): 152 - 157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Gerrard, F. X. Gibbons, and M. Reis-Bergan The Effect of Risk Communication on Risk Perceptions: the Significance of Individual Differences J Natl Cancer Inst Monographs, January 1, 1999; 1999(25): 94 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P Hawe, N McKenzie, and R Scurry Randomised controlled trial of the use of a modified postal reminder card on the uptake of measles vaccination Arch. Dis. Child., August 1, 1998; 79(2): 136 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Buckingham Review : Using the health belief model with sick children J Child Health Care, December 1, 1997; 1(4): 187 - 190. [Abstract]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. E. Hampson, R. E. Glasgow, and L. S. Foster Personal Models of Diabetes Among Older Adults: Relationship to Self-Management and Other Variables The Diabetes Educator, January 1, 1995; 21(4): 300 - 307. [PDF]
|
|