MPH Social & Behavioral Health 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Self-efficacy, a concept central to Social Cognitive Theory, refers to:
- The belief that one's behavior will produce the desired outcome
- An individual's confidence in their ability to perform a specific behavior (Correct answer)
- The social support received from peers during behavior change
- The motivation derived from external rewards
Correct answer: An individual's confidence in their ability to perform a specific behavior
Self-efficacy is an individual's belief in their own capability to execute a specific behavior or achieve a goal, strongly predicting health behavior change.
Question 2: Health literacy is defined as:
- The level of formal education completed by a patient
- The degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information to make decisions (Correct answer)
- A patient's ability to read prescription labels
- The literacy level required for medical school admission
Correct answer: The degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information to make decisions
Health literacy encompasses the ability to find, understand, and act on health information, directly impacting adherence, outcomes, and navigation of the health system.
Question 3: The concept of 'motivational interviewing' in public health is designed to:
- Motivate communities to participate in clinical trials
- Resolve ambivalence and strengthen intrinsic motivation for behavior change (Correct answer)
- Provide external incentives for healthy behaviors
- Educate patients about disease risk through lectures
Correct answer: Resolve ambivalence and strengthen intrinsic motivation for behavior change
Motivational interviewing is a client-centered counseling approach that explores and resolves ambivalence to strengthen an individual's own motivation for change.
Question 4: Which factor is a key social determinant of mental health disparities in the U.S.?
- Availability of psychiatric medications
- Poverty and economic instability (Correct answer)
- Individual personality traits
- Distance from mental health facilities
Correct answer: Poverty and economic instability
Poverty and economic instability are among the strongest predictors of mental health disparities, creating chronic stress and limiting access to resources and care.
Question 5: 'Cultural competence' in public health practice means:
- Requiring all patients to communicate in English
- Adapting programs and services to be effective for individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds (Correct answer)
- Training providers to adopt the cultural practices of patient populations
- Providing translation services only when legally required
Correct answer: Adapting programs and services to be effective for individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds
Cultural competence involves understanding and respectfully integrating cultural differences into health programs, communication, and care delivery to improve equity and effectiveness.
Question 6: Social capital in a community health context refers to:
- Financial investments in local health infrastructure
- The networks, trust, and norms of reciprocity within a community that facilitate collective action (Correct answer)
- Individual income and wealth in a community
- Government funding for social services
Correct answer: The networks, trust, and norms of reciprocity within a community that facilitate collective action
Social capital encompasses the social networks, trust, and shared norms that enable communities to cooperate and collectively address common challenges, including health issues.
MPH Social & Behavioral Health 2
Self-efficacy, a concept central to Social Cognitive Theory, refers to: