A description of the constructs of the Pender’s model using a specific health behavior

A description of the constructs of the Pender’s model using a specific health behavior

The model of health constructed by Nola Pender describes that every person has some unique features and experiences that affect actions that they take later in regards to their health. The cluster of variables for specific behavioral knowledge and their effect has some important significance to motivation towards healthy behavior. Nursing actions can be used to modify the variables in accordance with specific health behavior concerns. The promotion of health behavior is the required behavioral outcome, and they signify the end results in the health promotion model. Behaviors that promote health should produce improved function ability, enhanced health outcomes which ultimately leads to better quality of life in all developmental stages that humans go through. In the long run behavioral demand is also determined by competing preferences and demands that occur in real time since they can slow or divert actions that are intended to promote health.

A health choice or behavior which can be used to discuss the model of health promotion is the increase in physical activity or exercise among teenagers in a certain locality. In regards to increased physical activity the Pender model has the following constructs; health promotion, health protection and prevention of illness, behavior-specific thoughts and effects, behavioral outcomes and personal factors.  Health promotions can be described as behavior which is motivated by certain desires to increase general well being and health of an individual and actualize the potential for health. In this approach to improved health, increase in physical activity and exercise among teenagers is seen a way of promoting their general health and well being.

Health protection and the prevention of illness can be described as desires that motivate certain behaviors that actively prevent illness or promote early detection of illness. Physical activity is one of the measures that were put in place to prevent certain illnesses, in particular, those associated with sedentary lifestyles such as hypertension, heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

An individual’s characteristics and prior experience determine the general health promotion outcomes in regards to the Pender model. Some individuals are inherently bound to be inactive which can be as result of certain physiological factors while some become inactive as a result of negative prior experiences that may have led them to cultivate a bad attitude towards exercise and physical activity (Mehrabbeik et al., 2016).

Behavior specific thoughts that determine physical activity and exercise among teenagers are an important component of the Pender model of health promotion. These may include perceived barriers to action, perceived beneficial outcomes of action, interpersonal and situational influences and activity-related effects. All of these have an impact on improved physical activity as a way to promote wellness and health among teens.

Behavioral outcomes that affect physical activity among teens in regards to the Pender model include a commitment to a laid out plan of action, immediate competing preferences or demands and behavior that promotes health. These factors have an impact on the adoption of increased physical activity as health behavior that promotes health among teens.

Personal factors that affect the adoption of specific health behavior may be categorized as biological, socio-cultural and psychological. Biological factors may include variables such as pubertal status, aerobic capacity, agility, strength, and balance or body mass index. Psychological factors may include motivation, self-esteem, the definition of health and perceived health status. Socio-cultural variables include education, socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, and acculturation (Dehdari et al., 2014).

In regards to increased physical activity and exercise among teenagers as health behaviors that promote wellness and improve the health outcomes, the above constructs can be used to efficiently describe constructs of the Pender’s model of health promotion.
References

Mehrabbeik, A., Abad, S. S. M. M., Mozaffari-Khosravi, H., & Fallahzadeh, H. (2016). Predictors of Reduction in Fast Food Consumption among Female High School Students of Yazd: Path Analysis of Pender’s Health Promotion Model. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED BIOTECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, 7(4), 1661-1667.

Dehdari, T., Rahimi, T., Aryaeian, N., Gohari, M. R., & Esfeh, J. M. (2014). Developing and testing a measurement tool for assessing predictors of breakfast consumption based on a health promotion model. Journal of nutrition education and behavior, 46(4), 250-258.