Social and Behavioral Theories
1. Learning Objectives
After reviewing this chapter, readers should be able to:
β’ Define what theory is and identify two key types of social and behavioral science theory
that are relevant to public health interventions.
β’ Describe the key constructs of four theories that are often used in public health
interventions: the Health Belief Model, The Transtheoretical Model and stages of change,
Social Cognitive Theory, and the Social Ecological Model.
β’ Understand the nature of evidence about the relative effectiveness of theory-based
interventions.
β’ Identify the most important considerations in choosing the right theory to address a
health behavior problem in a particular population and context
