Unit 6 Behavior
As you reflect on your own health and wellness journey, you may think about the “path” you have taken. As indicated by the text, behavior change occurs in stages. This week, please identify a modifiable risk factor for yourself. Upon identification of this risk factor, explore what stage you believe you are in as it relates to the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change). What stage do you believe you are in and what are steps can you take to move through the stages of change? How can this reflection assist you in your role as a spokesperson for public health and health education?
Sample Answer
Reflection Essay
Currently, I hardly find enough time to engage in various physical activities due to my tight school and work schedule. Besides, I have increased my intake of fast foods. As a result, I have become physically inactive. This has led to various impacts on my health, including increased body weight. Therefore, my goal is to manage my weight by changing my lifestyle and diet. I have made some significant steps in my health and wellness journey. I have recognized my health problem, and I am willing to embrace various necessary measures to improve my health and wellness. Secondly, I am informed of the prospective health benefits of changing my health behavior. Thirdly, I have begun to make small changes to get ready for the more considerable life change. For instance, I have reduced the intake of fast foods that lead to weight gains like soda, ice cream, sweet-sweetened coffee, cookies, and sugary breakfast cereals.
The transtheoretical model holds that health behavior change is a procedural process that involves stages of change. Thus, this model provides six stages of cognitive and behavioral change that a person undergoes. They include pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination (de Freitas et al., 2020). I am at the preparation stage. Here, an individual is ready to take some steps to improve his/her chances of making a lasting life change successfully. Similarly, I have started to make some changes to manage my weight. For instance, I have written down my goals, prepared a plan of action, and made some motivating statements (Shaver et al., 2019). Also, I have started reducing the intake of foods rich in fats. Lastly, I have contacted various healthcare professionals, including dieticians, physicians, and physical activity specialists, for guidance.
This reflection will assist me in performing my role as a spokesperson for public health and health education. It will enable me to identify which stages of behavior change my patients/clients guide them to achieve a lasting life change successfully. Besides, through my reflection, I have identified the elements of change. They include readiness to change, barriers to change, and the likelihood of relapse (Wallston & Wallston, 2020). Therefore, I will put various measures to enhance my patients/clients’ readiness to change and address their barriers to change to avoid the likelihood of relapse.
References
- De Freitas, P. P., de Menezes, M. C., Dos Santos, L. C., Pimenta, A. M., Ferreira, A. V. M., & Lopes, A. C. S. (2020). The transtheoretical model is an effective weight management intervention: a randomized controlled trial. BMC public health, 20(1), 1-12. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-08796-1
- Shaver, E. R., McGlumphy, K. C., Gill, A. K., & Hasson, R. E. (2019). Application of the transtheoretical model to physical activity and exercise behaviors in African-American adolescents. American journal of health behavior, 43(1), 119-132. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/png/ajhb/2019/00000043/00000001/art00010
- Wallston, B. S., & Wallston, K. A. (2020). Social psychological models of health behavior: An examination and integration. In Handbook of Psychology and Health (Volume IV) (pp. 23-53). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003044307-2/social-psychological-models-health-behavior-examination-integration-barbara-strudler-wallston-kenneth-wallston
