A Social Cognitive View of Self Regulated Learning About Health*
Researchers interested in health related learning have recently begun to study processes people use to self regulate their health and their ability to prevent or control chronic disease. This paper represents a social cognitive view of self regulation that involves three classes of influence on self regulating behavior: personal, behavioral, and environmental. This triadic model assumes that people self regulate their health through the use of self care strategies, setting reasonable health goals, and monitoring feedback concerning the effectiveness of strategies in meeting their goals. People's perceptions of self efficacy are also assumed to play a major role in motivating them to self regulate their health functioning. According to social cognitive theory, processes entailed in regulating one's health can be taught through social modeling, supports, and feedback; gradually these external supports are withdrawn as one is able to self regulate. This paper will analyze self regulation processes related to controlling or preventing lung disease, specifically management of asthma and eliminating smoking. The educational implications of the triadic model of self regulation for promoting health and related behavioral functioning will be discussed.
Health education behavior the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education