Health Conscious Realist

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What does that mean?

Health Conscious Realists are motivated people who feel in control of their lives and their health.

They generally feel good about themselves, but have more internally focused aspirations to better themselves, learn more and have good relationships, rather than just aspiring to looking good.

They tend not to take risks and take a longer term view of life, and that applies to their health too. Their health is very important to them and they feel that a healthy lifestyle is easy to achieve and enjoyable.

They also take a realistic view of their health: of all the segments they are the least fatalistic about their health, and don’t think they are any more or less likely than other people to get ill.

Unlike the “Balanced Compensators”, they don’t use compensatory mechanisms. This may be because they are so health conscious, there’s no need for them to balance out health behaviours.

Traits of a Health Conscious Realist

  • Likely to eat healthy

Profile

  • Female bias in this segment
  • They are more likely to live in less deprived area
  • Segment with an older than average age

Behaviours

  • Display positive health behaviours
  • Highly motivated
  • In control of their lives and their health
  • Low incidence of drug and smoking use
  • Eat healthily

31% of adults who took this survey are Health Conscious Realists, this compares to a predicted 21% of the general population.

For healthcare clinicians

Approach

Non-prescriptive approach. ‘Maintain wellness’ rather than prevent illness. Primary care setting preferred.

Personal Interventions

Wellness health check outside medical/ill-health context, e.g. local authority wellbeing service. Personal and clear advice. Supported self-management materials.

Format – multiple or single-issue approach

Multiple health issues approach. Non-medical, facilitative approach building on their existing positive attitudes and behaviour.

Community/ environmental interventions

Environmental interventions, including cycle lanes and parks.

Facilities

Activities for the family.

Communications

Government/NHS branding not appropriate and needs to be local. Information availability rather than prescriptive messages, focusing on control and individual free ability/choice to respond to information and set goals as a result.

Engagement

Already engaged with health/services, so prefer facilitation-based approaches building on their positive attitudes and behaviour.

Service utilisation and satisfaction

Average levels of service use, despite older age. Average levels of satisfaction.