Enhance a Family's Confidence

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Which key concepts enhance a family's confidence in their ability to positively change health behaviors? Please explain. Thank you.

1. Knowledge builds confidence
"Health information gives people more control of their experiences and lives," explains Cheryl Stallings, R.N., coordinator of the Family Education Program at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. "It not only prepares you to react appropriately in emergency situations, but also helps you ask the right questions about everyday health concerns. You gain the confidence to make important decisions related to the health of you, your family, and people in your care." (http://www.covenanthealth.com/healthy/hwDetail.cfm?Post_ID=7911).

For example, teachers and parents can provide children with health information. Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention--
• Explain the relationship between positive health behaviors and the prevention of injury, illness, disease, and premature death.
• Describe the interrelationship of mental, emotional, social, and physical health during adolescence.
• Explain how health is influenced by the interaction of body systems.
• Describe how family and peers influence the health of adolescents.
• Analyze how environment and personal health are interrelated.
• Describe ways to reduce risks related to adolescent health problems.
• Explain how appropriate health care can prevent premature death and disability.
• Describe how lifestyle, pathogens, family history, and other risk factors are related to the cause or prevention of disease and other health problems. (http://www.education-world.com/standards/national/nph/health/5_8.shtml).
In fact, the National Health Education Standards are standards that specify what students should know and be able to do. These include seven standards that focus on health promotion and disease prevention, health information and products, health behaviors, media influence, reducing health risks, effective communication, goal-setting and decision-making skills, as well as the important roles of the family, school, and community.
2. Setting goals for healthy living (i.e., I will prepare meals following the Canada Food Guide, I will quite smoking, I will stop buying so many sweets and more fresh fruits for smacks, etc.)
Goal setting is probably the most effective way of building self-confidence. By setting measurable goals, achieving them, setting new goals, achieving them, and so on you prove your ability to yourself. You are able to prove to yourself that you are able to perform and achieve effectively. You can see and recognise and enjoy your achievement, and feel real self-worth in that achievement. Importantly, by knowing what you are able to achieve, you are not setting yourself up for surprise failure - you almost always have a reasonably accurate assessment of what your abilities really are, which is unclouded by ego or vanity. (http://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html). For more information on goal setting, click here.
3. Healthy Lifestyle
Good health is a goal toward which many of us strive. After all, we know that, in great measure, our physical well-being determines the quality of our life. But deciding which approach to a healthy life-style will best improve or maintain personal health is no easy task. It is virtually impossible to read a newspaper, watch television, listen to the radio, or browse in a bookstore without being bombarded by information from experts and so-called experts on the art of staying healthy. It is no wonder that confusion abounds (see http://www.naturalself.com/healthy_lifestyle.htm for more detail). However, a healthy lifestyle usually includes such things as physical activity, nutrition, no tobacco use, alcohol ...