Behavior change is generally complex; there are countless influential factors that influence group and individual behaviors. Theory is important because it identifies patterns and causal relationships among beliefs, attitudes, and actions. An established framework is necessary to develop and implement interventions that promote behavior change. Theories help explain behaviors and behavior change at the individual, interpersonal, community, and ecological levels.
Information about the role of theory in HIV prevention is available.
The theoretical basis for an intervention is identified and described on the Intervention Details page available for all interventions in the Selection Tool. The list below includes many of the commonly used HIV prevention interventions theories.
Health Belief Model
Individual health behavior is governed by (1) perception of personal susceptibility to disease, (2) severity of disease, (3) perceived efficacy of behavior in dealing with disease, and (4) perceived barriers to adopting behaviors.
Stages of Change Model (Transtheoretical Model)
Individuals progress through six stages in order to change health behaviors: precontemplation > contemplation >preparation > action > maintenance > termination.
Also: Integrated Behavior Change Theory
Motivational Interviewing
Through focused, client-centered counseling, individuals examine and reconcile internal issues hindering their motivation to engage in healthy behaviors
Cognitive Behavioral Theory
Individuals can reduce risk behaviors by (1) increasing information, (2) practicing self-protective skills to increase self-efficacy, (3) practicing social competency skills, and (4) social support.
Theory of Gender and Power
Women are often unable to practice safer sex when men hold the economic and physical power in the relationship, or when they haven been socialized to be sexually passive.
Relapse Prevention Model
Individuals can prevent relapse by assessing the environmental and emotional characteristics of high-risk situations and developing strategies to successfully deal with the situations, their responses to such situations, and other lifestyle factors that may contribute to relapse.
Conservation of Resources Theory
Health promotion and disease prevention depends on the availability and management of individual, social, and environmental resources. When resources are lost or threatened, individuals may become stressed or develop a negative state of being.
Social Ecological Theory of Behavior
Health behavior is influence by the effect of various physical and social conditions within environments on the person's well-being.
Also: Ecological Perspective
Comprehensive Health Seeking & Coping Paradigm
An individual's health outcomes can be predicted by (1) personal resources, (2) social resources, (3) cognitive appraisal, (4) coping behaviors, and (5) sociodemographic factors.
Diffusion of Innovation Theory
New ideas or norms can be spread throughout the community when they are seen as advantageous, or when enough key community leaders adopt the innovation, establishing a new norm.
Empowerment Theory
By obtaining skills and resources necessary to take control of their lives, individuals and/or communities can increase healthy behaviors and eliminate risky behaviors.
Also: Women's Empowerment Theory
Model of School Change
Overall student achievement and other outcomes can be improved by creating a coherent and focused school-wide effort, incorporating different activities and initiatives within the school.
Social Marketing Theory
Health information is targeted towards consumers, who may adopt new health behaviors if they believe that there is a valuable exchange in which they satisfy their wants and needs with little sacrifice.
Social Identity Theory
Individuals identify themselves based on their membership of social groups. Group memberships can boost an individual's self esteem when one's social group is perceived favorable when compared to another group.
Social Action Theory
Social and physical environments activate an individual's self-regulation processes, which can encourage the development of long-term health habits.
Problem Behavior Theory
Youth engagement in problem behavior is influenced by the interaction of personality variables, behavior variables, and perceived social environment variables.
Social Influence Theory
The public bases its health behavior decisions on information received from "opinion leaders," who are seen as both having expertise in a topic and being an accessible, trustworthy source.
Active Learning Theory
Individuals learn through the continuous process of experiencing, observing others, discussing with others, and engaging in internal dialogue and self-reflection.
Family Systems Theory of Behavior
An individual's behavior (1) happens within, (2) is influenced by, and (3) influences the environmental context of the person's family.
Theory of Reasoned Action
Individual attitudes and motivation determine the likelihood that the individual will engage in a specific health behavior.
PNI Theory
Some psychosocial factors are related to stress reactions and may alter the immune system, lower resistance to infections, and predispose individuals to health problems.
Social Cognitive (Social Learning) Theory
Self-perception of ability to adopt health behaviors is based on thoughts and beliefs rooted in observational learning experiences.
Theory of Possible Selves
Youth visualize possible selves by integrating their characteristics and abilities with the skills necessary to become various future selves.
Cognitive Consistency Theory
Individuals are motivated to behave in a way that maintains the consistency of their thoughts and beliefs, and will make behavior changes to reduce tension caused by conflict among beliefs.
Theory of Planned Behavior
Health behaviors are determined by an individual's health beliefs, attitudes, personality, social norms, and willingness to comply with those norms.
Information – Motivation – Behavior Skills Model
Individuals who are informed in HIV transmission and prevention, personally and socially motivated, and skilled in necessary HIV prevention activities will engage in HIV preventive behaviors.
Protection Motivation Theory
The intention to protect one self depends on (1) perceived severity of threatened event, (2) perceived vulnerability, (3) efficacy of preventive behavior, (4) perceived self-efficacy.
Coping Effectiveness Theory:
Coping involves a process of behavioral and cognitive responses to stressful events. It includes problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping; choice of strategies is influenced by the perception that the situation is either changeable or controllable. Adaptive coping occurs when the coping strategy matches the situation.
AIDS Risk Reduction Model
Individuals change AIDS risk behaviors by (1) acknowledging high risk behaviors, (2) committing to reduce high risk behaviors and increase protective behaviors, and (3) taking action to make the change.