Health Belief Model

Assault within the home, seems to be increasingly prevalent among youth. Many influences may affect whether these cases are reported, and whether the victim feels it is appropriate to report them. Chapin and Coleman discuss a study particularly on adolescents that focuses on the term optimistic bias which is defined in the text as, “the belief bad things happen to other people.” (Chapin, Coleman, 2014, p. 757). The article uses many other studies to explain the alarming number of adolescents who have experienced assault in a physical manner in the home, and the mental processes before and after the events. The study that is particularly examined looks at the relationships that may be present between the HBM (Health Belief Model), optimistic bias,

According to the model, there are four types of health beliefs: (1) Perceived Susceptibility, (2) Perceived severity, (3) Perceived benefits, and (4) Perceived barriers” (Chapin, Coleman, 2014,p. 758). The results of the study, proved their predicted relationships between optimistic bias and perceived media were correct. As an adolescent begins to believe the images and depictions of families violence in the media are realistic, they begin to believe that it is less likely to happen to them. This supports the fact that “Nearly one-third (28.4%) of adolescents experience some form of physical assault in the home.” (Chapin, Coleman,2014 , p.760). As referred to in the text, the media plays a large part in portraying families and what is appropriate within them. This is where perceived media reality increases a child’s optimistic bias towards violence within the thome. Chapin and Coleman (2014) did not state that there was a relationship between optimistic bias and demographics, it did state that poor health, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, and obesity were directly related to sexual and physical