title: Models of health behaviour.
abstract: This short overview focusing on health behaviour as related to coronary risk calls for a distinction between models which aim at explaining initiation of health-damaging behaviour during adolescence and models explaining maintenance of risk behaviour in adult life. With respect to the former, close links between the development of a stable self-concept and risk behaviour are stressed. With respect to the latter, four theoretical models are summarized: the model of risk-taking behaviour; the health belief model; the model of cultural lag and the model of social comparison. The practical implications of these models are discussed briefly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University of Marburg, F.R.G.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegrist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors