Empowered and seeing opportunities rather than threats
COLD, PLAQUE
Overall, the informants expressed high efficacy beliefs, regardless of the direction of their emotional response. In particular, informants expressed beliefs that health behaviour matters and will be effective, which can be understood as an important prerequisite for behavioural change. The informants also expressed response efficacy beliefs when they learned about their improved results, in relation to implemented lifestyle changes. Self-efficacy was often described in a concrete way, sometimes related to previous experiences, but also prospectively.Some informants expressed that retirement had or will enable them to be more physically active, eat healthier and perceive less stress. Hindrances, such as cold weather hindering physical activity, were mentioned by a few, but the majority of the informants described that their opportunities for health behaviour were good, and that they saw possibilities rather than threats. Receiving a severe ultrasound result (in this case of plaque on both sides or red IMT) was interpreted as an opportunity to act:It meant possibilities, definitely. A signal. Because, what now if I had not participated in this? How would it have been in that case? (Woman, informant 6)