Disability and Health Behavior Change

Objective/hypothesis: We conducted a review of four health behavior change (HBC) theories (Health Belief, Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Cognitive, and Transtheoretical) to consider how these theories conceptually apply to people with disabilities.

Methods: We identified five common constructs across HBC theories and examined how these commonalities fit within the International Classification of Function (ICF).

Results: Four of the HBC constructs appear to be Personal Factors within the ICF, while the fifth represents Environmental Factors.

Conclusions: Using the ICF framework to understand disability and HBC, we propose that including a sense of meaning as another personal factor will further develop HBC theories that lead to more effective HBC interventions for people with disabilities.