Applying the Theories of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior and the Trans-Theoretical Model to Health Challenges

Applying the Theories of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior and the Trans-Theoretical Model to Health Challenges

Theoretical frameworks provide a platform for understanding and predicting human behavior. Some of the commonly used theories in comprehending the behavior of individuals include the theory of reasoned action/planned behavior and the transtheoretical model. In particular, the theory of reasoned action and planned behavior are closely linked and founded on premises that emphasize on personal motivational elements, which determine the likelihood of an individual to perform a certain behavior (Patel, Arocha, & Ancker, 2017). The theory holds that the most appropriate projector of one’s behavior is their intention to act (Patel et al., 2017). A person’s behavior is directly influenced by attitude and subjective norms. Attitude describes one’s beliefs regarding action and the outcome linked with the behavior, inclusive of his/her evaluation of those outgrowths. Similarly, subjective norms refer to one’s viewpoint of how individuals will view the behavior and, subsequently, their motivation to adhere to it (Patel et al., 2017). On the other hand, Liu, Kueh, Arifin, Kim, and Kuan (2018) opine that the transtheoretical model aims to understand people’s behavioral changes and describes how individuals move dynamically through five phases of behavioral changes. The model serves as a fundamental guideline to positive health-behavior changes, and it posits that the five stages of readiness for change entail pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. In this backdrop, this paper uses the transtheoretical model to understand the health literacy of inner-city households and their purchase of fruits and vegetables at grocery stores.

Inner-city families have minimal resources to finance healthy lifestyles. Unemployment and poverty are some of the major problems that residents in inner cities experience. As a result, inner cities are characterized by crime, violence, welfare, family dysfunction, and a low degree of social organization (Conchas & Vigil, 2015). Inadequate healthcare is also a significant problem among families residing in inner cities (Conchas & Vigil, 2015). In this vein, residents of inner cities are likely to have low levels of health literacy since the lack of access to adequate healthcare prevents them from obtaining preventative healthcare, which is a vital resource in the promotion of health literacy among individuals. Moreover, limited resources among inner-city families are a hindrance to their ability to purchase fruits and vegetables at convenience stores. Inner cities have limited supermarket grocery stores. Instead, these areas have a disproportionately high number of fast-food outlets, which lead to nutritional imbalance (Martin et al., 2014). Inner-city families have to rely on convenience stores, which overprice their items. Inadequate access to healthy and affordable food is detrimental to individuals’ dietary intake and result in nutrition linked adverse health outcomes entailing obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, among others (Martin et al., 2014). As such, inner cities have limited access to healthcare services, as well as healthy and affordable foods.

The use of the transtheoretical model in understanding an inner-city family’s purchase of fruits and vegetables at a convenience store is informed by its ability to explain the motivation of behavior change. In the pre-contemplation phase, individuals have no intention to initiate behavioral change (Liu et al., 2018). A majority of inner-city dwellers have low health literacy and may not see the advantage of buying fruits and vegetables. In the contemplation phase, a person takes serious consideration to change behavior. This move is informed by understanding the merits of a behavior change. In the context of inner city families, people in the preparation stage have a high likelihood of buying fruits and vegetables in convenience stores if they evaluate its advantages and demerits, have positive thoughts, and good behavior. Moreover, individuals with a high level of self-efficacy are more likely to adhere to positive behaviors despite any prevailing obstacles (Liu et al., 2018). Therefore, inner-city households with high self-efficacy are likely to purchase fruits and vegetables despite the limitations of limited resources and overpriced groceries in convenience stores. Notably, health literacy is a major determinant of inner-city dwellers’  decision to buy fruits and vegetables. Low levels of health literacy are associated with poor healthy behavioral choices, the enhanced prevalence of diseases, and an increase in mortality (Bayati, Dehghan, Bonyadi, & Bazrafkan, 2018). Therefore, low health literacy is a significant barrier to inner-city households’ motivation to buy fruits and vegetables.

In conclusion, behavioral theories help in understanding human behavior in various health choices. The multiple stages of the transtheoretical model are critical in explaining the motivations of inner-city families’ likelihood to purchase fruits and vegetables. These families are also characterized by low health literacy, which affects their ability to make desirable health choices.