Sanderson, Health Psychology, 3e

SAGE Publishing, 2019

Chapter 3: Theories of Health Behavior

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The oldest continuum theory of health behavior is ______.

A. the theory of reasoned action
B. social cognitive theory
C. the theory of planned behavior
D. the health belief model
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Health Belief Model
Difficulty Level: Easy

2. A social efficacy component is ______ in the health belief model and ______ in social
cognitive theory.
A. absent; absent
B. absent; present
C. present; absent
D. present; present
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Components of Social Cognitive Theory
Difficulty Level: Hard

3. An individual’s belief about whether others will support a new health behavior are a
key element of a ______ model of health behavior called the ______.
A. continuum; theory of reasoned action
B. continuum; transtheoretical model
C. stage; theory of reasoned action
D. stage; transtheoretical model
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Theories of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior
Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Continuum theories of health behavior do NOT include ______.

A. the transtheoretical model
 Sanderson, Health Psychology, 3e

SAGE Publishing, 2019

B. theories of reasoned action and planned behavior

C. social cognitive theory
D. the health belief model
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Critiques of Continuum Models
Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Which statement is NOT a valid criticism of continuum theories of health behavior?

A. Continuum theories may lack sociocultural generality.
B. Continuum theories do not predict behavior over time.
C. Continuum theories fail to predict specific health behaviors, such as using condoms
(by social cognitive model) or receiving vaccinations(by health belief model).
D. Continuum theories do not include an individual’s past behavior as a potential
influence on health behaviors.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Critiques of Continuum Models
Difficulty Level: Medium

6. “Health behaviors are no different than any other behavior,” a health psychologist
argues. “They are acquired through basic mechanisms like association, reinforcement,
and modeling,” she continues. The health psychologist seems to endorse ______.
A. social cognitive theory
B. the theory of planned action
C. the health belief model
D. learning theory
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-2: Compare the three distinct learning theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Learning Theories of Health Behavior
Difficulty Level: Medium

7. The graphic images of diseased lungs and rotten teeth and gums that appear on
cigarette packages in Canada and Australia depend for their effectiveness on a learning
mechanism called ______.
A. classical conditioning
B. habituation
C. observational learning
D. operant conditioning
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-2: Compare the three distinct learning theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Classical Conditioning
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SAGE Publishing, 2019

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. The idea that behaviors can be increased or decreased as a result of their

consequences is at the heart of a learning process called ______.
A. classical conditioning
B. habituation
C. observational learning
D. operant conditioning
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-2: Compare the three distinct learning theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Operant Conditioning
Difficulty Level: Easy

9. The portrayal of the likely success of such procedures as CPR on television medical
dramas is BEST described as ______.
A. too pessimistic
B. realistic
C. slightly optimistic
D. very optimistic
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-2: Compare the three distinct learning theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Observational Learning
Difficulty Level: Medium

10. The use of learning theory to design programs aimed at promoting health behavior
yields changes that are ______.
A. usually negligible
B. sometimes superficial
C. often dramatic
D. generally lasting
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 3-2: Compare the three distinct learning theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Evaluating Learning Theories
Difficulty Level: Hard

11. With respect to health behavior, structure is to process as ______ theories are to
______ theories.
A. continuum; stage
B. learning; stage
C. stage; continuum
D. learning; continuum
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
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SAGE Publishing, 2019

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Stage Models of Health Behavior Change
Difficulty Level: Hard

12. The first stage of the transtheoretical model of health behavior change is ______,
and the last stage is ______.
A. contemplation; maintenance
B. contemplation; action
C. precontemplation; maintenance
D. precontemplation; action
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model
Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Jenny is a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Her sponsor stresses the importance
of regular meeting attendance and continued step work to build clean time and to
prevent a relapse. With respect to the stages of change model, this advice is aimed at
supporting the ______ stage.
A. maintenance
B. action
C. precontemplation
D. contemplation
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model
Difficulty Level: Medium

14. The precaution adoption process model differs from the transtheoretic model of
health behavior change in that it ______.
A. includes two broad stages rather than five specific ones
B. identifies more stages at the beginning of the health behavior change process
C. eliminates the maintenance stage
D. proposes that people move through the stages in a linear fashion
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Precaution Adoption Process Model
Difficulty Level: Hard

15. The newest stage model of health behavior change is the ______. This far, the
empirical support for this model is ______.
A. health action process approach; encouraging
B. health action process approach; mixed
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SAGE Publishing, 2019

C. transtheoretical model; encouraging

D. transtheoretical model; mixed
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Health Action Process Approach
Difficulty Level: Medium

16. DARE, the often-used drug prevention program is ______ successful.

A. not at all
B. somewhat
C. quite
D. very
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Critiques of Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Some years ago, a law enforcement office in Oregon created a visual campaign
called “Faces of Meth,” comprising striking mug shots of repeat arrestees that showed
the damage to one’s appearance resulting from methamphetamine abuse. This
campaign was MOST likely effective because it ______.
A. allayed anxiety
B. enhanced vulnerability
C. offered concrete strategies
D. provided self-affirmation
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Improving Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Hard

18. Including opportunities for self-affirmation in fear-based appeals is ______.

A. counterproductive, because it makes people feel invulnerable to illness or injury
B. counterproductive, because it encourages people to discount the main message
C. unproductive, because they have no effect
D. effective, because it makes people open to information they don’t want to hear
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Improving Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Medium
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SAGE Publishing, 2019

19. Overall, fear-based appeals ______.

A. are almost never effective
B. are effective only in the short-term
C. can be effective if they are carefully crafted
D. are almost always effective
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Improving Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Medium

20. The textbook’s discussion of message framing suggests that gain-framed messages
are to ______ prevention as loss-framed messages are to ______ prevention.
A. secondary; primary
B. tertiary; secondary
C. tertiary; primary
D. primary; secondary
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Message Framing
Difficulty Level: Hard

21. With respect to health-promotion messages, tailored is to ______ as targeted is to

______.
A. group; individual
B. individual; group
C. gain-framed; loss-framed
D. loss-framed; gain-framed
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 3-5: Summarize the use of personalized health-promotion
messages.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Personalized Health-Promotion Messages
Difficulty Level: Hard

22. Anh Dung, Guillermo, and Al are three men in treatment for alcohol use disorder.
Anh Dung remarks that he experiences strong cravings for a drink; Guillermo has
exceptional verbal skills; and Al scores high on subclinical tests of psychopathology.
Which choice pairs a potential treatment element with the individual for whom it is
MOST appropriately tailored?
A. medication--Al
B. coping skills training--Al
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SAGE Publishing, 2019

C. medication--Guillermo
D. relapse prevention training--Anh Dung
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-5: Summarize the use of personalized health-promotion
messages.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Reducing Alcohol Use
Difficulty Level: Hard

23. As compared to generic weight loss messages, tailored messages are ______
effective for obese women with an ______ locus of control.
A. equally; internal
B. less; internal
C. less; external
D. more; external
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 3-5: Summarize the use of personalized health-promotion
messages.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Improving Eating and Eating-Disordered Behavior
Difficulty Level: Medium

24. Anjelica has always been a bit of “control freak” and “micromanager” who wants to
know everything, all the time. The same is true for her impending surgery. Based on the
textbook’s discussion of tailored health-promotion messages, Anjelica is MOST likely to
benefit from a(n) ______ intervention to manage the pain related to her procedure.
A. emotion-focused
B. gain-framed
C. loss-framed
D. problem-focused
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 3-5: Summarize the use of personalized health-promotion
messages.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Managing Pain and Illness
Difficulty Level: Medium

25. In one study described in the text (Kalichman and colleagues, 1993), targeting safe-
sex messages through background music, choice of narrator, and culturally appropriate
references resulted in an increase of about ______ percentage points in the proportion
of Black women requesting condoms.
A. 10
B. 20
C. 30
D. 40
Ans: D
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Learning Objective: 3-5: Summarize the use of personalized health-promotion

messages.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Screening for Health Conditions
Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. According to the social cognition model, whether an individual thinks that strength
training will have any effect on their physique is an example of self-efficacy.
Ans: F
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Adulthood and Older Adulthood
Difficulty Level: Medium

2. From the perspective of the biopsychosocial model, continuum models of health

behavior may be seen as incomplete.
Ans: T
Learning Objective: 3-1: Describe the three continuum theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Critiques of Continuum Models
Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Operant conditioning approaches are MOST effective when people are rewarded for
small steps in the right direction.
Ans: T
Learning Objective: 3-2: Compare the three distinct learning theories of health behavior.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Operant Conditioning
Difficulty Level: Easy

4. The transtheoretical model recognizes that people may not make changes in a linear
fashion.
Ans: T
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model
Difficulty Level: Medium

5. The health action process approach contains two broad stages: the action and
maintenance stages.
Ans: F
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
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SAGE Publishing, 2019

Answer Location: Health Action Process Approach

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Patterns of brain activation suggest that fear-based appeals should be highly

effective.
Ans: T
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Fear-based appeals are effective as long as they do not make people feel vulnerable.
Ans: F
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Improving Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Medium

8. The effectiveness of a particular message promoting condom use may vary

depending on an individual’s focus on intimacy in their relationships.
Ans: T
Learning Objective: 3-5: Summarize the use of personalized health-promotion
messages.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Increasing Condom Use
Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. Propose a positive health behavior change you might undertake in the near future, or
one that a close friend or family member might undertake. Suggest how the change
might unfold according to the transtheoretical or stages of change model. Be sure to
briefly define each stage of the model and to illustrate each stage with a concrete
example reflecting the proposed health behavior change.
Ans: Varies but stage descriptions and examples should resemble these:
Precontemplation--At this stage, an individual lacks awareness of the problem behavior
and has no intentions or plans to change the behavior in the foreseeable future. A
college student may be unaware that drinking only soda throughout the day and never
drinking water is not a healthy way to satisfy one’s thirst. They have not considered the
potential risks posed by the empty calories and excess sugar.
Contemplation--In this stage, an individual is beginning to think about making a change.
This stage is characterized by a growing awareness of the costs of the negative
behavior as well as of the individual’s personal susceptibility. A student might realize
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that drinking more water and less soda is a good idea. They might be worried about
weight gain as they settle into adulthood and experience a slowing metabolism. They
might start seeking information to support the potential change.
Preparation--At this point, the individual commits to making a change and takes small
steps in the right direction. A college student might limit their intake to two 12-oz. cans
of soda each day, or they might replace every other soda with a glass of water.
Action--During the stage, the behavior change is full-on and public. A student may drink
only water and no soda even socially. At this stage, the individual usually has a lot of
support from family and friends.
Maintenance--During maintenance, the behavior change is maintained and the focus is
on relapse prevention. A student may focus on strategies to avoid high-risk soda
situations, such as parties and restaurant meals.
Learning Objective: 3-3: Explain the three stage models of health behavior change.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Transtheoretical (Stages of Change) Model
Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Fear-based appeals are sometimes effective at producing health behavior change;

sometimes, however, they are ineffective. Suggest two ways to improve fear-based
appeals, illustrating each with an example from an actual or hypothetical fear-based
appeal.
Ans: The answer should mention two of the textbook’s five ways to improve fear-based
appeals: (1) create moderate levels of fear; (2) provide specific strategies; (3) focus on
short-term consequences; (4) enhance vulnerability; and (5) provide self-affirmation.
Varies, but should be plausible. For example, a fear-based appeal aimed at preventing
binge-drinking might provide strategies to reduce alcohol consumption, such as eating
beforehand or alternating alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks; focus on the immediate
consequences of impairment; enhance vulnerability by suggesting how easy it is to
attain dangerous BAC levels; and provide self-affirmation by suggesting that the viewer
is a successful, in-control college student.
Learning Objective: 3-4: Describe distinct strategies for creating health behavior
change.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Improving Fear-Based Appeals
Difficulty Level: Medium