Social-cognitive factors in changing health-related behaviors

Changing health-related behaviors requires two separate processes that invo lve motivation and volition, respectively. First, an intention to change is developed, in part on the basis of self-beliefs. Second, the change must b e planned, initiated, and maintained, and relapses must be managed; self-re gulation plays a critical role in these processes. Social-cognition models of health behavior change address these two processes. One such model, the health action process approach, is explicitly based on the assumption that two distinct phases need to be studied longitudinally, one phase that leads to a behavioral intention and another that leads to the actual behavior. P articular social-cognitive variables may play different roles in the two st ages; perceived self-efficacy is the only predictor that seems to be equall y important in the two phases.