Using the PRECEDE model

Your predisposing factors are your knowledge and/or attitudes:

• Knowledge - education and information.

AND/OR

• Attitude - the belief that the behavior is necessary, and whether or not you can achieve it.

Positive vs Negative predisposing factors

You must identify at least one of each in your discussions. The positive factors help you explore factors you already have in your life that can help you make a positive behavior change. Whereas the negative factors help you anticipate barriers to the desired behavior change.

• Positive predisposing factors - Previous exposure to research, knowledge shared from a  health professional, or coursework are all common predisposing factors. Or, your attitude towards the positive behavior change is your factor. This would mean you know it is a change, and you are sure you could put great efforts into the accomplishment of those changes.

• Negative predisposing factors -  do you currently lack the knowledge/information, and further research is needed? That lack thereof is considered negative (for now). Or, maybe you have simply not yet been motivated to pursue this particular health behavior change.

Your enabling factors are resources and/or skills:

• Resources - external factors such as facilities, services, access to care.

AND/OR

• Skills - internal factors such as the training or physical ability needed.

Positive vs Negative enabling factors

You must identify at least one of each in your discussions. The positive factors help you explore factors you already have in your life that can help you make a positive behavior change. Whereas the negative factors help you anticipate barriers to the desired behavior change.

• Positive enabling factors - resources such access to facilities, services, healthcare, etc. for free, or at an affordable cost that can help you make the positive health behavior change. Finding these factors that are available to you in your school and local community may take time and some research. Or, you may already have the skills needed to make the change, but have not been using them lately. 

• Negative enabling factors - lack of resources such as time, money, services, or facilities may be a current obstacle for you. Never being taught the skills, or having the skills needed to make the needed health behavior change would be considered negative, as well.

Your reinforcing factors are what you can create to encourage a positive health behavior change.

Tips for creating reinforcing factors

• think of something that can hold you accountable, or reward you for a positive health behavior change.  Or, sometimes we are very passionate about certain health behaviors and we have a strong desire to achieve those specific goals. This strong internal locus of control can mean that the reward is the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment we have from achieving that goal.

• do not create a reward that is the opposite for what you are trying to accomplish (i.e. cheat days). This is just positive reinforcement for a negative behavior. Would you give someone a "cheat" cigarette to reward them for two weeks of not smoking?

• avoid negative reinforcement, as research shows this is more likely to decrease your self-esteem. An example of negative reinforcement is taking away time normally spent on your favorite hobby because you missed your fitness goals this week. You can see how this can be stressful for some, and possibly lead you to dislike your fitness goals.