3.2.3. Socio-Psychological Theories

Socio-psychological theories focus on "the social conditions of emotions and cognition" ([6] p. 24) and, similarly to micro-sociological theories, seek to explain interactions between individuals and communities. In contrast to micro-sociological theories, these theories tend to favour causal explanations over interpretive explanations [6]. Thus, these theories may be conducive to PPH research on the reasons for behaviour modification. The health belief model is an example of this type of theory, as it is frequently used to explain causal factors that predict people's engagement in health behaviours. Perceived sensitivity to a certain health problem, perceived benefits of engaging in certain health behaviours, and perceived barriers to engaging in certain health behaviours are examples of some of these characteristics [14].
