Children's Health Beliefs and Acceptance of a Dental Preventive Activity

Abstract

In a study of participation in a school-based preventive dental program, the relationship between children's beliefs about health and their participation did not follow predictions of the Health Belief Model. Further, perceived efficacy was the only belief altered by an introduction to the program, despite the fact that some children participated in group discussions designed to change other health beliefs as well. The similarity of these data to other data on health beliefs of children and adults is cited. It is suggested that health beliefs are difficult to change and are often unrelated to behavior. It is also suggested that health beliefs and behavior might be parallel developments in the individual that need not be causally related.