Essentials of Health Behavior: Social and Behavioral Theory in Public Health

by Mark Edberg

Health promotion, education, and prevention programs ultimately focus on changing health behavior. Essentials of Health Behavior provides the groundwork for understanding, assessing, and effectively applying theories of human behavior, within the practice of public health.In clear and accessible language, it provides the student with a background of the kinds of social and behavioral theories that guide our understanding of health related behavior and that form the background for health promotion and prevention efforts. Filled with real life examples and profiles, the text explores some of the ways in which these theories and approaches are used in applied health promotion efforts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Textbooks

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2007

Reviews

[Disa Brummet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book, with shorter chapters with discussion questions. Great book to learn from.

[Steph Glier · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highly mediocre. The discussion was far too simple, even for an introductory text.

[Franklin Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview, but there were many places but LGBT groups were not included in any examples, even examples they very much belonged in. Additionally, harm reduction's influence was under emphasized.

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an undergraduate textbook, but a good one. There are clear interdisciplinary perspectives. Importantly, there are discussions of how and why people behave in ways that are against their best interest. The dissonance between knowledge and behaviour is evaluated.