Theory Database - Theory 76: Terror Management Health Model

Theory Database (prototype)

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. Wellcome Open Research.

Number of Constructs: 12
Number of Triples: 13

Health scenarios / threats influences Death thought activation
Relevance of behaviour for coping with threat influences the 'Conscious' to 'Threat-avoidance outcomes' Influences relationship
Conscious influences Threat-avoidance outcomes
Conscious influences Health behaviour-oriented outcomes
Relevance of behaviour for coping with threat influences the 'Conscious' to 'Health behaviour-oriented outcomes' Influences relationship
Unconscious influences Health-defeating outcomes
Unconscious influences Health-facilitating outcomes
Relevance of behaviour for meaning and self-esteem influences the 'Unconscious' to 'Health-defeating outcomes' Influences relationship
Relevance of behaviour for meaning and self-esteem influences the 'Unconscious' to 'Health-facilitating outcomes' Influences relationship
Unconscious influences Avoidance of body-oriented health behaviour
Relevance of behaviour for threat of creatureliness influences the 'Unconscious' to 'Avoidance of body-oriented health behaviour' Influences relationship
Conscious type of Death thought activation
Unconscious type of Death thought activation

Goldenberg, J.L., & Arndt, J. (2008). Th e implications of death for health: A terror management health model for behavioural health promotion. Psychological Review, 115, 1032-1053.