3.2. Analyse how barriers impact behaviour change

This guide will help you answer 3.2. Analyse how barriers impact behaviour change.

Behaviour change refers to the process of adopting new actions, habits, or attitudes. For many individuals, making positive changes to their behaviour can involve numerous challenges influenced by a variety of barriers. Barriers are the obstacles, difficulties, or limitations that make implementing and maintaining change harder.

Understanding these barriers is important for health and social care workers. It allows professionals to identify challenges people face and work towards supporting them. In this guide, we will explore how specific barriers impact behaviour change and why they pose such difficulties.

Psychological Barriers

Psychological factors play a crucial role in preventing people from making changes. These barriers often relate to emotions, thoughts, and beliefs.

Some examples include:

• Fear of failure: Many people hesitate to change behaviours because they are afraid they will not succeed. This fear can lead to procrastination or complete avoidance of change.
• Low self-esteem or confidence: Believing that they cannot achieve success can prevent individuals from even trying. It may cause them to feel powerless or unwilling to take risks.
• Negative past experiences: If someone has previously tried and failed to make a similar change, they may be less likely to attempt it again.
• Mental health challenges: Conditions like anxiety or depression can make initiating and sticking to change extremely difficult. For example, depression can drain motivation, while anxiety may heighten worries about the outcome of the change.

Example: Someone trying to quit smoking might think, “I don’t have enough willpower,” or, “I’ve failed before, so I won’t even attempt it now.” This mindset hinders progress before it begins.

Social and Environmental Barriers

The social and environmental context in which a person lives also affects their ability to change behaviours. These factors include influences from friends, family, community, and surroundings.

• Lack of social support: Without encouragement from family or peers, people often feel isolated in their efforts to change. A lack of support can make sticking to new behaviours more difficult.
• Peer pressure: In some cases, individuals may experience pressure from others to maintain unhealthy habits. For example, friends who drink heavily may encourage someone trying to reduce alcohol consumption to “join in” or “not spoil the fun.”
• Cultural norms and expectations: Certain behaviours may be deeply rooted in cultural practices. For instance, dietary habits, such as eating specific high-fat foods at celebrations, may clash with an individual’s attempt to adopt a healthier diet.
• Unsafe or unsupportive community environments: Environmental barriers like a lack of nearby exercise spaces or unsafe neighbourhoods can also hinder changes in lifestyle. For example, living in an area with no parks or gyms may prevent an individual from taking up regular physical activity.

Example: A person looking to exercise more may struggle if they have no one to exercise with or fear the area where they plan to take walks alone.

Financial Barriers

Money is a critical factor when addressing behaviour change. Costs can directly limit the ability to implement certain changes.

Key financial barriers include:

• Cost of healthy options: Healthier foods, gym memberships, or therapy sessions may be expensive, making them inaccessible to many.
• Unstable income: People living on a low or unpredictable income may prioritise immediate needs like food or housing over making changes that seem less urgent.
• Limited access to resources: People in disadvantaged areas may have fewer affordable shops, healthcare facilities, or support groups to facilitate change.

Example: Someone wishing to eat healthier may struggle if they cannot afford fresh fruit and vegetables regularly, forcing them to rely on cheaper, processed foods laden with fats and sugars.

Physical Barriers

Physical health limitations can also block individuals from altering their behaviour.

These may include:

• Disabilities: Physical or sensory disabilities may limit opportunities for certain habits, such as exercising.
• Chronic illness: Ongoing health conditions can reduce the energy or capacity an individual has for focusing on behavioural changes. For example, someone in chronic pain may find it difficult to undertake physical activity.
• Side effects of medication: Certain medications can interfere with energy levels, motivation, or mood, making it harder to engage in change.

Example: An individual with severe arthritis may feel physically unable to engage in regular exercises, such as walking or swimming, even if they know it would be beneficial.

Cognitive Barriers

Cognitive abilities, including knowledge, understanding, and reasoning, also affect behaviour change. Lack of information or the ability to understand how to approach change can prevent success.

• Limited knowledge: Some people may not know how to begin changing their behaviours. For example, someone trying to lose weight may not understand nutrition or know healthy cooking techniques.
• Misconceptions: Believing in myths or misinformation can interfere with progress. For example, someone might think skipping meals will speed up weight loss, which could ultimately harm their health.
• Difficulty processing information: This could be due to age, cognitive disabilities, or language barriers. If guidance or instructions are overly complex, individuals may feel overwhelmed and give up.

Example: A person with limited literacy skills may find it challenging to follow written instructions on a healthy living plan.

Time-Related Barriers

Time constraints are another significant factor. For many people, changing behaviour simply does not fit into their daily schedule.

Common time-related barriers include:

• Busy schedules: Work, caregiving responsibilities, or studies may leave little room for focusing on personal change.
• Feeling rushed: Some individuals may aim for quick results and feel disappointed when change takes longer than expected.
• Competing priorities: Time tends to be spent on immediate needs, and behaviour change (e.g., regular exercise or preparing meals) may be seen as secondary compared to other demands.

Example: A parent juggling childcare and a full-time job may feel they do not have enough spare time to cook healthy meals or engage in exercise.

Cultural or Religious Barriers

Cultural and religious beliefs heavily influence behaviour, making it challenging for some individuals to change without conflicting with their identity or values.

Common barriers include:

• Dietary or lifestyle restrictions: Religious dietary rules or cultural customs may clash with suggested changes. For example, some cultural festivals revolve around consuming sugary or fatty foods.
• Mistrust of healthcare interventions: Cultural beliefs may also discourage certain forms of medical or psychological interventions.

Example: An individual raised in a community where emotional struggles are seen as “weak” might avoid counselling or therapy even if it could help.

Structural and Organisational Barriers

Public services or organisational policies can unintentionally make behaviour change harder.

Potential barriers include:

• Long waiting times: Delays in accessing services, such as counselling or rehabilitation programmes, can demotivate individuals.
• Lack of facilities: In some areas, essential support services may not exist or may have limited availability.
• Inefficient systems: Complex procedures for signing up to programmes or unclear eligibility criteria may act as deterrents.

Example: A person wanting to join a government-funded weight management group may give up if the waiting list lasts several months.

Ways to Overcome Barriers

Now that we’ve identified the potential barriers, what can we do to address them? Here are a few approaches:

• Building a support system: Encouragement from friends, family, or professionals can improve confidence and keep individuals motivated.
• Access to education: Providing clear and simple information about healthy changes can help individuals feel empowered.
• Accessibility improvements: Creating low-cost or no-cost programmes reduces financial restrictions.
• Breaking changes into smaller steps: Addressing one manageable goal at a time can prevent people from feeling overwhelmed.
• Tailoring changes to fit individual needs: Individuals may need a personalised plan, taking into account their cultural, financial, or physical limitations.

Final Thoughts

Barriers to behaviour change are wide-ranging and complex. Understanding how these obstacles affect individuals helps health and social care workers provide better support. By recognising and addressing these barriers, you can assist individuals in making lasting improvements to their lives.