<P> Perceived severity refers to the subjective assessment of the severity of a health problem and its potential consequences . The health belief model proposes that individuals who perceive a given health problem as serious are more likely to engage in behaviors to prevent the health problem from occurring (or reduce its severity). Perceived seriousness encompasses beliefs about the disease itself (e.g., whether it is life - threatening or may cause disability or pain) as well as broader impacts of the disease on functioning in work and social roles . For instance, an individual may perceive that influenza is not medically serious, but if he or she perceives that there would be serious financial consequences as a result of being absent from work for several days, then he or she may perceive influenza to be a particularly serious condition . </P> <P> Perceived susceptibility refers to subjective assessment of risk of developing a health problem . The health belief model predicts that individuals who perceive that they are susceptible to a particular health problem will engage in behaviors to reduce their risk of developing the health problem . Individuals with low perceived susceptibility may deny that they are at risk for contracting a particular illness . Others may acknowledge the possibility that they could develop the illness, but believe it is unlikely . Individuals who believe they are at low risk of developing an illness are more likely to engage in unhealthy, or risky, behaviors . Individuals who perceive a high risk that they will be personally affected by a particular health problem are more likely to engage in behaviors to decrease their risk of developing the condition . </P> <P> The combination of perceived severity and perceived susceptibility is referred to as perceived threat . Perceived severity and perceived susceptibility to a given health condition depend on knowledge about the condition . The health belief model predicts that higher perceived threat leads to higher likelihood of engagement in health - promoting behaviors . </P> <P> Health - related behaviors are also influenced by the perceived benefits of taking action . Perceived benefits refer to an individual's assessment of the value or efficacy of engaging in a health - promoting behavior to decrease risk of disease . If an individual believes that a particular action will reduce susceptibility to a health problem or decrease its seriousness, then he or she is likely to engage in that behavior regardless of objective facts regarding the effectiveness of the action . For example, individuals who believe that wearing sunscreen prevents skin cancer are more likely to wear sunscreen than individuals who believe that wearing sunscreen will not prevent the occurrence of skin cancer . </P>

In the health belief model the perception of a health threat is based on