By: Wendi L. Siebold, M.A., M.P.H. Strategic Prevention Solutions

By: Wendi L. Siebold, M.A., M.P.H.

Strategic Prevention Solutions

www.strategicpreventionsolutions.com

1. Why theory?2. Types of

theories3. Example:

MOST Clubs4. Common

behavior change theories

5. Resources

Improve your capacity to implement comprehensive prevention

Comprehensive prevention efforts should:Be evidence-basedBe theory-basedAddress multiple levels of the social

ecologyInclude public health behavior change

principles in program contentDELTA: Guidance on developing a Comprehensive Primary Prevention Strategy (written by Pam Cox, CDC, 2004)

We are trying to prevent the behavior of IPV by individuals. Theories provide guidance on how to affect the behavior of individuals by changing attitudes, knowledge, norms, practices, and policies at all levels of the social ecology

DELTA: Guidance on developing a Comprehensive Primary Prevention Strategy (written by Pam Cox, CDC, 2004)

Theories of change should guide the development of programs and activities by helping practitioners explain how their planned activities will change attitudes, knowledge, norms, practices, policies - and ultimately behavior


It is not enough to say, “This program is based on feminist theory”

Say it is “informed” by feminist theory and combine it with another theory that states the mechanisms by which behavior is changed

You can use ‘formal’ or ‘informal’ theories


Use chat to answer

Which prevention activities are you implementing that are already connected to

theories?

Etiological theories

Why SV/IPV occurs in a given context

Example: a feminist analysis of male privilege and rigid gender control

Perry, Brad (2009). Working From A Deliberate Basis: Theory & Primary SV/IPV Prevention. Moving Upstream, Vol. 5: 1, VSDVAA

Change theories

Explains how strategies will change the behavior of individuals, and the structures of institutions and communities

Example: social learning model


Process theories

Explain the interconnected steps through which a group, community, or institution would move in order to realize a goal, or set of goals

They are the ‘Roadmap’ of program implementation

Usually represented in a logic model


“Most SV/IPV programs do not incorporate deliberate, established rationales in the development of primary IPV prevention projects - the benefits of which can augment and exist alongside of those insights gleaned from intuition and practical experience”


Use Theory !!

Use Theory !!

Remember…

The roots of the feminist and social justice movement provide the context for change

Change theories are based on studies of human behavior change

Etiological theory

Link between sexual violence perpetration and peer support for sexually adversarial attitudes and behaviors among groups of young men (Gwartney-Gibbs. et al., 1987)

Could address these problematic attitudes and behaviors by tapping into these peer bonds through honest and open male-to-male dialogues

These peer bonds could be used to strengthen positive attributes of young menPerry, Brad (2009). Working From A Deliberate Basis: Theory & Primary SV/IPV Prevention. Moving Upstream, Vol. 5: 1, VSDVAA

Change theory

Social learning model

Facilitates peer-to-peer learning where participants share stories, challenges, and successes, and receive reinforcement from each other on adopting behavior that is both affirming to themselves as men, and not harmful to the women or men in their lives


Process theory

Logic model


What are other examples from your own prevention

activities?

Behavior is affected by environmental influences, personal factors, and attributes of the behavior itself

Self-efficacy is key - A person must believe in his or her capability to perform the behavior

A person must also value the outcomes or consequences that he or she believes will occur as a result of their behavior (immediate or long-term benefits)

Self-efficacy can be increased by providing clear instructions, providing the opportunity for skill development or training, and modeling the desired behavior

US Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, Chapter 6 - Understanding and Promoting Physical Activity


Behavior is determined by a person's intention to perform that behavior

Intention is determined by two major factors: the person's attitude toward the behavior and the influence of the person's social environment or subjective norm

The theory of planned behavior adds the concept of perceived control over the opportunities, resources, and skills necessary to perform a behavior


Behavior depends on the person's perception of four areas: the severity of a potential illness the person's susceptibility to that illness the benefits of taking a preventive action the barriers to taking that action

Also incorporates cues to action (e.g., leaving a written reminder to oneself to walk)

Self-efficacy has been added


Also called “stages of change”

Behavior is a five-stage process or continuum related to a person's readiness to change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance

Stages are spiraling or cyclical, not linear

Change depends on doing the right thing (processes) at the right time (stages)

Tailoring activities to match a person's readiness or stage of change is essential

Most behavior change theories highlight the role of:

The outcomes of behavior Perceptions of control over behavior Social influences Most theories do not address the

influence of the environment (this is why we focus on the ecological model to frame our prevention efforts in a more comprehensive way)


Any other theories that you are considering?

What are your next steps?

Overview of theorieshttp://www.csupomona.edu/~jvgrizzell/

best_practices/bctheory.html

Theory of Planned Behavior http://people.umass.edu/aizen/tpb.html

CDC document outlining main components of comprehensive prevention

Public health textbooks

Prevention Principles handout – “Theory”

Documents

By: Wendi L. Siebold, M.A., M.P.H. Strategic Prevention Solutions