HHS 330: Health Behavior Theory

Course Description

This course provides an overview of social and behavioral science theories that are currently used to: 1) understand health related behaviors and 2) guide development of interventions designed to prevent, reduce, or eliminate major public health problems. Fundamentals of Health Behavior and Health Education is grounded in the recognition that public health is in its nature, an interdisciplinary field aimed at reducing preventable morbidity and premature mortality, and promoting a higher quality of life in populations and groups through health intervention. While it is acknowledged that population and individual level health outcomes are influenced by biological, physical, and medical care factors, this course focuses on the relationship of behaviors as well as social and political structures to health outcomes. The course highlights the importance of both local contexts and global practice for understanding and improving health. Using a social ecological framework, we will consider the interaction of four levels of factors: individual, interpersonal, community, and population. The course provides students with a broad survey of current health behavior and education practices, and is not intended to result in an in-depth understanding of any particular theories, specific practice models, or selected research methods. Rather, the purpose is to introduce students to the conceptual and methodological approaches currently adopted in the social and behavioral sciences that inform public health research and practice. (F, S, W).