Selected elements affecting the formation and shaping of attitudes and health behaviours

Abstract

Introduction Attitudes and health behaviours refer mainly to the cognitive, behavioural and emotional components. Attitudes and health behaviours combine the emotional relationship, beliefs and tendencies to positive or negative behaviour, making their character very complex. Objective The aim of the study was analysis of literature in the field of selected elements of the formation and shaping of attitudes and health behaviours. Brief description of the state of knowledge Health attitudes can be derived from both emotions and beliefs, as well as behaviour towards the subject of the attitude. Shaping health attitudes and behaviours is a very complex and long-lasting process that begins in early childhood. The process lasts throughout life and involves both shaping attitudes and changing attitudes from positive to negative and vice versa. Changes may result from personal introspection, analysis and persuasion. The issue of health attitudes and behaviours is closely related to the concept of health orientation, which is associated with awareness of its location and placement. Health-related orientation includes all activity of an individual, his/her intentional and targeted activity concerning health. Properly shaped attitudes, thought processes and hierarchy of health values allow us to undertake actions that are the correct response to health needs. Summary Attitudes and health behaviours are the sum of external and internal factors. They are a measure of our abilities, predispositions and social conditions, as well as gender, age, and self-esteem. One of the determinants of the behaviours in question is the health orientation reflecting our own experiences, hierarchy of values and health competences.

Keywords

• health
• health behaviors
• attitudes