What does the Health Belief Model suggest regarding health behavior change?

The Health Belief Model is a psychological model that explains and predicts health behaviors by focusing on individuals' beliefs and attitudes towards health risks and behaviors. According to this model, one of the key components that drives health behavior change is the perceived threat of the health risk, which encompasses both perceived susceptibility and perceived severity.

The model suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors when they believe that the perceived benefits of taking action outweigh any potential barriers or costs associated with the action. Therefore, the view that health risks must outweigh perceived benefits aligns well with the model, as it emphasizes the importance of individual perceptions in decision-making regarding health behaviors. When individuals recognize a significant health threat and believe that the benefits of action are greater than the barriers, they are more motivated to make changes to improve their health.

This focus on the balance between perceived risks and benefits is fundamental to understanding health behavior change within the Health Belief Model framework.