The Major Role of Public Health Theories - Essay Example

PUBLIC HEALTH THEORY Public Health Theory Introduction Public health theories play a major role in the creation of interventions programs to change behaviors and promote health. This paper will apply the social cognitive theory and Bronfenbrenners model of human development to establish a program to prevent and discourage excessive alcohol use among Indiana University college students. Discussion The social cognitive theory can be effectively used in the curbing of the excessive alcohol use that has been noted amongst the students of Indiana University College. The social cognitive theory, according to scholars in the social and behavioral sciences, is conceptualized by understanding only five constructs which are; knowledge, perceived self-efficiency, outcome expectations, goal formation and socio-structural factors. Knowledge is an important aspect in curbing and promoting behavior and health. In regards to the problem identified among the students of Indiana University, the University should come up with a way of sensitizing the dangers of excessive drinking to the students. This might through seminars or inviting a once upon a time alcoholic to give a speech on his past occurrences. We all that the power of knowledge is to create awareness. Therefore, once the students get to know of the consequences of excessive drinking they might look for ways of how to stop drinking. This is not certain as goes old adage that knowledge is obligatory but not an adequate foundation for behavior change. DiClemente, Salazar, & Crosby, (2011) looks at types two knowledge. These are content knowledge which engages in understanding the advantages and disadvantages of a given health behavior, and procedural knowledge, which engages in understanding how to take on in a given health behavior. Procedural behavior is more efficient to then students since the students will have a clear a clear outline on how to quit alcohol drinking. Perceived self-efficacy is also an important aspect in the social cognitive theory. This is where one understands his or her ability to execute a certain behavior. Self-efficacy is task specific in that in a particular person, self-efficacy can be stronger in a given behavior compared to another. Students with lower self-efficacy are most likely to engage or not engage in alcohol consumption. This is so unlike the students who have a strong self-efficacy. To balance this, there are four methods of learning that can be used to increase self-efficacy. The first method of learning is one’s physiological state. This is whereby one learns how to reduce fear and negative ideas on a specific behavior. For instance, the consequences of stopping drinking once a drinker may create a low self-efficacy for something that can be dealt with. Therefore learning to control one’s reactions is a fundamental way of growing self-efficacy. The second method of building self-efficacy is by verbal persuasion. The students can be verbally persuaded not to engage in excessive drinking (Hayden, 2009). This will have a powerful impact to students who have a reason to why drinking is bad. Vicarious experience is another method where people watch others perform a given activity and wait to see the outcome. In the university’s scenario, students should be advised to observe how drunkards behave, this might be on video. This might be a drunkard peeing on himself in public, talking nonsense and so on. The students should be asked if they would like to be seen in such a state. The feedback will help update the observer’s self-efficacy. Lastly, we have enactive attainment we the students are physically coached through the behavior. The students who are already into drink of ting can be given procedural content of knowledge and physically guided on how to stop drinking. In accordance to “Neighborhoods and Violent Crime: A Multilevel Study of Collective Efficacy”, the students should come together as a team so as to raise their self-efficacy. This should be done by sharing experiences and ideas. This will help overcome the issue of excessive drinking (Edberg, 2010). The students should also be made aware of the outcome expectations of drinking and quitting dinking. This should be short term and long term expectations. For example, they should be told that in the long run of drinking, one becomes a slave of alcohol and cannot do without it. One becomes mentally unstable and hence may lose chances of employed in the future. The students will be aware of the unfortunate outcomes of drinking and hence quit engaging themselves in alcohol. Goal formation procedures should also be included in program so as to help curb excessive drinking. The students should be given both the sub-goals and the ultimate goal. This is so because, one stopping drinking completely might not be certain. In relation to the sub-goals, might be easier for one to drink less each day, take medication as she or watches the daily outcomes. One will slowly adapt the good habit and may eventually quit drinking with time. Lastly, we have the socio-structural factors. We find out that the cultural and physical environment play a major role in our behavioral setup. For example, if the students are in an environment where alcohol is in plenty, it will be hard to curb excessive drinking for it will be readily available. Therefore, the university should reduce the supply of alcohol in the learning institution. The intervention to stop drinking must be multilayered since one way might not be sufficient. DiClemente, Salazar, & Crosby, (2011b) illustrates different ecology systems that affect human behavior. These are micro system which entails the immediate environment to a person for example the peers. Meso-system, this is the twining of two systems for example family with peers. Exo-system which refers to contexts which one is not directly involved with. Macro-system, which is the larger cultural context example of law. With all this we learn that we need a multi layered invention so as to curb behavior. Conclusion From the above we learn that public health theories play a major role in the managing of societal behavior. The theories can help one come up with a substantial program of how to curb any behavioral problem. Read More