Health Behavior Theory

Health Behavior Theory

All things are ready if our minds be so. ~ William Shakespeare

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Health Behavior Theory

Health Behavior Theory An Introduction
Effective programs that address health promotion or chronic disease management are likely to be based on a solid understanding of the health behaviors to be changed and the environmental context in which these health behaviors occur. Health Behavior Theory provides a systematic way of trying to understanding why people do the things they do and how their environment provides the context for their behavior. There are many health behavior theories that draw upon different disciplines including: psychology, sociology, anthropology and marketing. These theories provide planners a framework for designing, implementing and evaluating health programs addressing health related behaviors. Using health behavior theories in the development of health related programs helps establish the evidence base upon which health related programming is built. Theory guides the search for reasons why people practice the health related behaviors they do. The National Cancer Institute publishes Theory At A Glace: A Guide For Health Promotion Practice that provides detailed information about health behavior theories and how to use these theories to develop health related programming. It is important for people desiring to address the health of their community to understand the ve levels of inuence that affect community health. It is important to address all ve levels of inuence to bring about effective community-led change for health improvement.

Social-Ecological Model
This model serves as a reminder to think about all levels of inuence that can be addressed to support long-term, healthful lifestyle choices. The descriptions in this example of the socioecological model of health are focused on nutrition, smoking and physical activity.

Society Community Organizational Interpersonal Individual

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Individuals
Addressing chronic disease begins by changing everyday behaviors that relate to eating, smoking and physical activity. That means people may need to change their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. But individuals do not live in a vacuum. Their health behaviors are strongly inuenced and their choices are largely determined by the groups and organizations that surround them and the community and society they live in. Successful health improvement efforts recognize this and strive for change at all levels. Through interconnected social relationships including families, schools, communities, and government individuals can nd the support and guidance they need to start making more healthful choices.

Interpersonal Groups
Whether its a family or a group of friends, a book club or a biking club, almost everyone belongs to some sort of group. Interpersonal groups are an important way to encourage and reinforce more healthful behaviors, giving individuals the knowledge and support they need to make good nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle choices.

Organizations
Organizations include schools, places of employment, places of worship, sports teams, and volunteer groups to name just a few. Organizations can help members make better choices about healthful eating, smoking, and physical activity through changes to organization policies and environments as well as by providing health information.

Communities
A community is like a large organization, able to make changes to policy and the environment to give residents the best possible access to healthful foods, smoke-free public places and places to be physically active. Changes to zoning ordinances, improvements to parks and recreation facilities, creating ways to distribute free or inexpensive fruits and vegetables: These are only a few of the many ways community residents, groups, and organizations can work together to improve nutrition and physical activity.

Society
This all-encompassing category involves individuals, organizations, and communities working together to change the culture to be more supportive of health. Nutrition, smoking, and physical activity legislation, statewide school policies, media campaigns, and partnerships with business and industry are just some of the ways a comprehensive strategy to reduce chronic disease takes shape on a large scale. (The Socioecological Model of Health was adapted from the CDC website 2009)