Prevention/treatment of a health problem
IB Psychology· Health and well-being· 14 min read
1. Core concept
Prevention and treatment strategies for a health problem (as opposed to a disorder) are the programmes designed to stop it developing or to reduce it — for example anti-obesity interventions or programmes to curb problematic social-media use. They draw on the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches (changing diet, beliefs, environments and models) and are judged on effectiveness: does the programme actually change behaviour, by how much, and for whom? A recurring finding is that effects are often real but small and highly variable across studies, so honest evaluation matters more than describing the problem.
2. Key studies
IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:
Loh, Yaw, and Lau (2023)
A meta-analysis of RCTs found social-media-based obesity-prevention interventions produced a statistically significant but small weight reduction, with substantial heterogeneity between studies. — Effectiveness evidence for a prevention strategy — significant but modest, illustrating honest evaluation of a health-problem intervention.
Manwong et al. (2018)
Group activity-based motivational enhancement therapy reduced social-media-use duration and depression scores in Thai high-school students, with effects emerging over time. — A treatment strategy for a behavioural health problem (problematic social-media use), showing what and how much it changed.
3. Evaluation (AO3)
Strength — measurable, comparable effects — Trial and meta-analytic designs (Loh, Manwong) give measurable effectiveness estimates and identify workable levers (environment, motivation, models).
Limitation — small effects and responsibility — Effects are often small with high heterogeneity (Loh) and short follow-ups, and there are questions of who is responsible — individual behaviour versus the 'obesogenic' or attention-economy environment.
4. Scope
5. Common Pitfalls
Wrong move:
Describing the health problem or the programme's content instead of evaluating its effectiveness.
Why:
A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
Correct move:
Focus on the studies: report the effect size and its limits (Loh's effect was significant but small and heterogeneous), the follow-up and generalisability — evaluate the strategy, do not just outline the topic.
Going deeper
- Prevalence of health problemsprevalence data motivate prevention (HWB_5).
- Social learning and healthsocial-learning-based programmes are one strategy (HWB_6).
- Psychological treatment (depression)treatment of a DISORDER is the parallel card (HWB_10).