Encyclopedia entry
Behavior Change Theory in Health Education and Promotion
Public Health
Oxford University Press
04/22/2013
DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199756797-0035
Abstract
The 20th century witnessed an extraordinary shift from infectious to chronic diseases as the leading causes of death. With greater understanding of the etiology of chronic disease, health behaviors have emerged as major contributors to premature morbidity and mortality. Thus, modifying health behaviors has tremendous potential to reduce the human and economic burdens of disease through prevention. Numerous studies have demonstrated that health behavior change including tobacco cessation, dietary modification with modest weight loss, and increased physical activity both prevents disease onset and improves the treatment and management of common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, and diabetes. Behavior change is complex and is most successful when resources align at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels. Health behavior change theory provides a roadmap to the major factors that influence behavior, articulates the relationships among the various factors, and considers when, where, and how these factors operate. This roadmap is critical for the development and implementation of effective approaches to health behavior change. Health behavior change theory and practice have evolved over time to focus on integrative models that examine the interplay of individual, interpersonal, social, cultural, and environmental factors. The following bibliography offers a collection of resources related to understanding, developing, testing, and applying health behavior theory at these multiple levels. It includes both early classic citations and recent theory formulations and applications. Many of the sources cited can be considered “metaresources,” as their coverage and references will lead the reader to more in-depth pursuit of specific topics.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Behavior Change Theory in Health Education and Promotion
- Creators
- Susan J Curry - Professor, The University of IowaRobin J Mermelstein - Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Resource Type
- Encyclopedia entry
- Publication Details
- Public Health
- DOI
- 10.1093/obo/9780199756797-0035
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/22/2013
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984063120502771
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