Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Research Paper ExampleIndividual beliefs and perceptions have a of import influence on their wellness. Research studies and works in this direction have proved that these beliefs affect individual behaviour in terms of their eating habits, practice of medicine routine or following their doctors instructions. Such behavioural aspects also have a strong impact on the individuals physiological governance and its effects on the immune system or cardiovascular systems. Research evidence has also supported the belief that the patients health conditions ar also influenced by the beliefs and perceptions of the health professionals. The health professionals belief impacts the nature of treatment adopted and the way it impacts the patients witness perception on his health condition and subsequent health behaviour (Broome and Llewelyn, 1995). The theoretical approaches and research findings over the decades have sought to explain the impact of such variables on individual health behaviou r and the extent to which it predicts health outcomes. Different models have sought to explain health related behaviours and among these models the locus of break has been the focus of much research.The locus of control refers to the degree to which individuals perceive events in their lives as being a consequence of their own actions, and thereby controllable (internal control), or as being unrelated to their own behaviour, and therefore beyond personal control (external control) (Bahar, 1988, p45). The work on health locus of control (HLOC) has been inspired by Rotter who conceptualized the measurement scale to valuate individual behaviour or expectancy in different dimensions. These dimensions include internality, powerful others and chance (Broome and Llewelyn, 1995). The internal HLOC relates to the individual belief that their health outcomes is attached to their health behaviour and hence it can be controlled, powerful others HLOC indicates that individual health is depende nt on the behaviour of