Which statement best defines Perceived Barriers?

• A. There Are Obstacles to Taking Action
• B. The Action Is Easy and Cheap
• C. The Person Wants More Information
• D. There Is a Trigger to Act

Answer: (A)

Perceived barriers are the obstacles a person believes will get in the way of taking action. These can be practical ones like cost, time, and hassle, or psychological ones like fear, discomfort, or embarrassment. That’s why the statement about there being obstacles to taking action best defines this concept—it centers on the perceived obstacles that can prevent behavior change. Even if someone recognizes the benefits and their risk, high perceived barriers can stop them from acting. The other ideas describe an action that’s easy and cheap (low barriers or high benefits), a desire for more information (information needs), or a trigger to act (a cue to action), which relate to other constructs rather than barriers.