Expectations

Efficacy expectations and outcome expectations have been found to be predictors in outcomes.  Research has found that increases in efficacy and outcome expectations result in less stress and anxiety and better performance.  At this phase of the study, we are concerned with growing outcome and efficacy expectations by creating small manageable goals and challenges to motivate participants into forming efficacy and outcome expectations.  
According to Boston University: 
Many theories of behavior changed used in health promotion do not consider maintenance of behavior, but rather focus on initiating behavior change. This is unfortunate as maintenance of behavior, and not just initiation of behavior change, is the true goal in public health. The focus of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) is to focus on maintaining change, the reason we consider it valuable.  The goal of SCT is to explain how people regulate their behavior through control and reinforcement to achieve goal-directed behavior that can be maintained over time. The first five constructs were developed as part of the SLT (Social Learning Theory); the construct of self-efficacy was added when the theory evolved into SCT.
  1. Reciprocal Determinism - This is the central concept of SCT. This refers to the dynamic and reciprocal interaction of person (individual with a set of learned experiences), environment (external social context), and behavior (responses to stimuli to achieve goals).  This is addressed in our empowerment phase.
  2. Behavioral Capability - This refers to a person's actual ability to perform a behavior through essential knowledge and skills. In order to successfully perform a behavior, a person must know what to do and how to do it. People learn from the consequences of their behavior, which also affects the environment in which they live.  This occurs during our education phase.
  3. Observational Learning - This asserts that people can witness and observe a behavior conducted by others, and then reproduce those actions. This is often exhibited through "modeling" of behaviors.   If individuals see successful demonstration of a behavior, they can also complete the behavior successfully.  This occurs during our evaluation phase.
  4. Reinforcements - This refers to the internal or external responses to a person's behavior that affect the likelihood of continuing or discontinuing the behavior. Reinforcements can be self-initiated or in the environment, and reinforcements can be positive or negative. This is the construct of SCT that most closely ties to the reciprocal relationship between behavior and environment.  Our study does not separate this, but instead includes it in all of our five phases.
  5. Expectations - This refers to the anticipated consequences of a person's behavior. Outcome expectations can be health-related or not health-related. People anticipate the consequences of their actions before engaging in the behavior, and these anticipated consequences can influence successful completion of the behavior. Expectations derive largely from previous experience.   While expectancies also derive from previous experience, expectancies focus on the value that is placed on the outcome and are subjective to the individual.  This occurs in our expectation phase.
  6. Self-efficacy - This refers to the level of a person's confidence in his or her ability to successfully perform a behavior. Self-efficacy is unique to SCT although other theories have added this construct at later dates, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior. Self-efficacy is influenced by a person's specific capabilities and other individual factors, as well as by environmental factors (barriers and facilitators).  This occurs in our efficacy phase.

Wellness through Community

We use the biopsychological model to take a holistic approach to providing our programs.  Not only do we provide the tools necessary to succeed, but we provide the social context for participants to succeed in.  This social context includes a support partner and community membership.

Support Partner

Support partners are partners each participant receives to go through the program with.  The support partners roles are to support each other through the program.  Support partners will mutually agree between them the partnership terms that best work for the partners.  Maybe daily check-ins are preferred, maybe not.  Some may prefer text, some phone call or facetime.  Maybe your goal is being around longer for your grandkids while the goal of someone else is to be able to run a 5k.  Different goals will have different support needs, the goal is to match you with a partner who provides you all the support you need.  Every participant will receive a support partner and will be a support partner to the person supporting them.

Community Support

The entire group of participants shall be known as the community.  The community will have weekly check-ins, updates, games, challenges, and competitions.  The point of the community is to give people a personal sense of belonging and social connection to their health.  This should increase buy-in, accountability, and success as it fulfills a significant ecological gap that many have that prevents them from successfully completing health programs.