Applying cognitive-social theory to health-protective behavior: Breast self-examination in cancer screening.

Abstract

This article applies recent developments in cognitive-social theory to health-protective behavior, articulating a Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing (C-SHIP) model. This model of the genesis and maintenance of health-protective behavior focuses on the individual's encodings and construals, expectancies, affects, goals and values, self-regulatory competencies, and their interactions with each other and the health-relevant information in the course of cognitive-affective processing. In processing health information, individuals are assumed to differ in both the accessibility of these mental representations and the organization of relationships among them. In this article, the model is applied to analyze and integrate the often-confusing findings on breast self-examination in cancer screening. Implications are considered for assessments and interventions to enhance adherence to complex, long-term, health-protective regimens, tailored to the needs and characteristics of the individual.

Monitoring coping style moderates emotional reactions to genetic testing for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer: a longitudinal study

“…These findings are also consistent with predictions of the Monitoring Process Model [36,45], whereby high monitors' distress is activated only when threatened with an aversive event and is not present when stress is low or absent. This results from their tendency to perceive personal risks as higher; to experience more intrusive ideation; and to encode threats as catastrophic [34,37,41,43,44,59,60]. High monitors' excessive reaction to indeterminate results may also reflect their higher need for certainty [42], which is frustrated under such test results.…”

“…Adaptive coping employs monitoring strategies in controllable situations [37,61,62]. Among HNPCC carriers and individuals with indeterminate results, monitoring must be considered adaptive, because for them the situation appears to be controllable owing to availability of real options for prevention and early treatment.…”

“…According to our findings, participants in HNPCC programs who need extra attention are those who are high monitors with indeterminate or positive results. Fortunately, theoretical developments in psychology facilitate the design of interventions tailored to specific individuals and situations [11,37,47].…”

“…When faced with a health threat, high monitors are more likely to report heightened distress than are individuals who tend to distract themselves in the face of such information [13,[34][35][36][37][38]. High monitors may be especially likely to opt for predictive genetic testing for cancer because of their threat-related vigilance and information-seeking style [39][40][41][42].…”

Social‐cognitive aspects of underserved Latinas preparing to undergo genetic cancer risk assessment for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

“…The larger literature explaining general health-promotion behaviors has drawn from existing social-cognitive models that may be applicable to Latinas awaiting GCRA. Social-cognitive theory (SCT), for example, has been applied as an underlying theory for behavior change in studies of breast cancer patients and breast screening behaviors [33,34]. SCT emphasizes the interactions between cognition and behavior, and focuses on the perceived self-efficacy of health habits along with the perceived facilitators and barriers to the changes sought.…”